Articles Tagged ‘Go 20 - Brake the road safety charity’

Brake, the road safety charity, has produced a free interactive e-learning resource to promote the benefits of 20mph limits, and to raise awareness about the importance of people in cars slowing down around homes, schools and shops to protect more vulnerable road users. The ‘GO 20’ interactive resource can be used by community groups, educators, road safety professionals, or anyone who wants to find out more about how 20mph limits can benefit their community.

As shown in Brake’srecent research on 20mph limits, reducing limits from 30 to 20mph has been shown to reduce casualties [1] because drivers have more time to react to unexpected events and emergencies. At 30mph, if a child runs out three car lengths ahead, you will hit the child at almost full speed, with a high chance of killing or injuring them. At 20mph you should be able to stop in time. Children also benefit from slower speed limits because they struggle to judge the speed of vehicles over 20mph, so often make mistakes crossing roads with faster traffic [2].

A 2014 Brake survey found that eight in 10 people (78%) think 20mph should be the norm around schools, on residential streets, and in village, town and city centres [3]. Brake is calling on local authorities to listen to public opinion and implement widespread 20mph limits in their own areas [4]; and on drivers to slow down to 20mph to keep vulnerable road users safe.

The open-access ‘GO 20’ resource challenges users to test their understanding of 20mph limits, and can be used to facilitate discussion and present the facts on the importance of drivers slowing their speed. Brake is especially encouraging community campaigners to use the‘GO 20’ resource to raise public awareness and inspire local authorities to introduce 20mph limits in their areas.

Gary Rae, director of communications and campaigns said:“Everyone should be able to walk and cycle in their communities without being put in danger. Reducing speed limits from 30 to 20mph where we live, work and play protects the most vulnerable – children, older people, disabled people and anyone on bicycle or on foot. Brake’s new ‘GO 20’ e-learning resource shows the benefits of driving more slowly. It’s a powerful tool that demonstrates how 20mph limits put people first, creating safer streets and healthier, happier communities. The resource is freely available to road safety practitioners, campaigners and educators to help them talk about a really important issue, because the fact is, speed kills.”

The facts

Every day five children and 20 adults are killed or seriously injured while walking or cycling on UK roads [5]. Every casualty is devastating.

Speed is a critical factor in all road crashes and casualties. Reducing traffic speeds is crucial to road safety. It has been estimated that for every 1mph reduction in average speeds on urban streets, crash rates fall by an average of 6% [6].

The faster they drive, the less chance drivers have of being able to stop in time in an emergency. And if they can’t stop in time, they will hit with greater impact, increasing the chances of causing serious injury or death. A vehicle travelling at 20mph (32km/h) can stop in time to avoid a child running out three car-lengths in front. The same vehicle travelling at 30mph (48km/h) will not be able to stop in time, and will still be travelling at 28mph (45km/h) when they hit the child [7].

When traffic is slower and roads are safer, people feel much freer to run, walk or cycle. Brake surveys have found that three in four schoolchildren (76%) would like to walk and cycle more, but worry that they might be run over while doing so [8]; and that three in four (74%) UK parents say their family would walk more if the safety of nearby roads was improved [9].

When traffic is slowed to 20mph in communities, research shows people are friendlier with their neighbours, feel safer in their area, and take part in more community activities [10][11].

Through itsGO 20 campaign, Brake is part of a broad coalition of charities calling for 20mph limits to become the norm in our cities, towns and villages. Ultimately, we want the government to change the national default urban speed limit from 30 to 20mph. In the meantime, we are calling on local authorities to GO 20 by implementing widespread 20mph limits in their own areas; and on drivers to help make our roads safer by slowing down to 20mph or below around homes, schools and shops, even where the limit is still 30mph.

About Brake

Brake is a national road safety charity that exists to stop the needless deaths and serious injuries that happen on roads every day, make streets and communities safer for everyone, and care for families bereaved and injured in road crashes. Brake promotes road safety awareness, safe and sustainable road use, and effective road safety policies. We do this through nationalcampaigns,community education,services for road safety professionals and employers, and by coordinating the UK's flagship road safety event every November,Road Safety Week. Brake is a national, government-funded provider ofsupport to families and individuals devastated by road death and serious injury, including through a helpline and support packs. Brake was founded in the UK in 1995, and now has domestic operations in the UK andNew Zealand, and works globally to promote action on road safety.

Road crashes are not accidents; they are devastating and preventable events, not chance mishaps. Calling them accidents undermines work to make roads safer, and can cause insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by needless casualties.

End notes

With many thanks to Rod King, Founder & Campaign Director of 20's Plenty (www.20splenty.org), for his assistance with the interactive resource.

Road safety charity Brake and Churchill Insurance are urging drivers to ‘go 20’ and take more care in communities, as their latest survey puts the spotlight on irresponsible driving around schools and nurseries. Three in five parents (59%) reported witnessing speeding outside their child’s school or nursery in the past year, with the same number (60%) also reporting drivers pulling out or turning without looking properly.

The findings come as up to 26,000 tots across the UK take part in the first national Beep Beep! Day of 2015, a road safety project for nurseries and infant schools run by Brake and Churchill and aimed at helping keep young children safe on the roads. See the Beep Beep Day! launch video and photos.

Brake and Churchill’s survey of 1,000 parents of 5-11 year olds also found:

Nearly half (47%) reported distracted driving, such as drivers on phones, around their child’s school.

Two thirds (65%) reported inconsiderate or illegal parking around their child’s school.

Three in 10 (30%) had witnessed children not being secured properly in child restraints.

Worryingly, there are indications that parents themselves could be part of the problem. A third (32%) admitted they don’t drive more safely, for instance by slowing down and looking more than usual, near schools and nurseries, and a quarter (24%) admitted they don’t even do so around their child’s own school or nursery. Three in five also admitted they don’t take more care around homes (62%) or shops (60%).

As well as teaching children aged two to seven road safety basics, Brake’s Beep Beep! Days raise awareness among parents and drivers about how they can keep kids safe. As this year’s project kicks off, Brake and Churchill are appealing to all drivers, including parents, to take responsibility for children’s safety to help prevent the six child deaths and serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day [1].

In particular, drivers are being asked to stick to 20mph or below around schools, nurseries, homes and shops, to protect children and others on foot or bike.Find out aboutBrake’s GO 20 campaign.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive, Brake, said:“All children have the right to a healthy life, and to be able to play safely – rights that are universally enshrined in the UN convention on the rights of the child. And yet, in the UK, one of the most developed countries in the world, our children are often denied these rights because of the lethal danger posed by fast traffic and careless driving. That’s why, in a year when the UN is asking people across the world to help #SaveKidsLives on roads, we’re calling on UK drivers to take the lead in making roads safer for children – by going 20mph or less and taking more care in communities. As well as educating kids about road danger, we hope the Beep Beep! Day project will serve as an inspiration for parents and drivers to help reduce that danger.”

Steve Barrett, head of Churchill Car Insurance, said: “We are very proud to be supporting Beep Beep! Day once again this year. Too many children die or are seriously injured on our roads each day. Beep Beep! Day is a great way of starting to educate young children on road safety, as well as raising awareness among drivers, including parents and grandparents, of the need to drive with extreme care when young children are about.”

In 2014, 15,000 children took part in a Beep Beep! Day. Brake encourages nurseries, playgroups, infant schools, children's centres and childminders to run the event on one of three dates – in 2015, these are 18 March, 8 July and 15 November – or on whatever day is best for them. Nurseries receive a free electronic pack with downloadable resources, or can buy a bumper hard-copy pack for £12.60 (inc VAT) to help them run road safety activities and promote road safety to parents and the community.

Beep Beep! Days involve activities such as creating a poster of hand prints saying 'We hold hands', experimenting with toy cars to learn the words stop and go, and singing road safety songs. Activities are designed to help children to start understanding road safety, and to emphasise to parents and other adults their responsibilities in protecting children. Sponsorship raised by children helps Brake provide support for families bereaved and injured by road crashes and run community road safety campaigns.

When your child starts to walk with you around your community, talk to them about how they must always hold your hand. If your child is likely to pull away from you, use safety reins or a wrist strap. Hold hands until your child is at least eight, or longer depending on their development.

Make sure they understand the meaning of stop, traffic, danger, look, listen, walk don't run, and other key words. Encourage your child's nursery or playgroup to teach road safety through a Beep Beep! Day. Your child's learning will be more effective if they are taught about road safety at school as well as at home.

These results, released today (Wednesday 18 March 2015), are from a survey of 1,000 parents of children aged 5-11, conducted by independent survey company Surveygoo in March 2015.

Q1. Do you drive more safely (e.g. slowing down and looking around more) around the following? (tick all that apply)

Your own child’s school or nursery – 76%

Other schools and nurseries – 68%

Leisure facilities (e.g. parks, playgrounds, sports facilities) – 50%

Shops – 40%

Homes – 38%

None of the above – 15%

Q2. Have you witnessed any of the following bad driving behaviour around your child(ren)’s school or nursery in the past year? (tick all that apply)

Speeding – 59%

Pulling out/turning without looking properly – 60%

Inconsiderate/illegal parking – 65%

Road rage – 33%

Distracted driving (e.g. on phones) – 47%

Children not belted up properly in child restraints – 30%

None of the above – 11%

Brake

Brake is a national road safety charity that exists to stop the needless deaths and serious injuries that happen on roads every day, make streets and communities safer for everyone, and care for families bereaved and injured in road crashes. Brake promotes road safety awareness, safe and sustainable road use, and effective road safety policies. We do this through national campaigns, community education, services for road safety professionals and employers, and by coordinating the UK's flagship road safety event every November, Road Safety Week. Brake is a national, government-funded provider of support to families and individuals devastated by road death and serious injury, including through a helpline and support packs.

Brake was founded in the UK in 1995, and now has domestic operations in the UK and New Zealand, and works globally to promote action on road safety.

Road crashes are not accidents; they are devastating and preventable events, not chance mishaps. Calling them accidents undermines work to make roads safer, and can cause insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by needless casualties.

Churchill

Founded in 1989, Churchill is now one of the UK's leading providers of general insurance, offering car, home, travel and pet insurance cover over the phone or on-line.

Churchill general insurance policies are underwritten by UK Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England No 1179980. UK Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Churchill and UK Insurance Limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc. Customers can find out more about Churchill products or get a quote by calling 0800 200300 or visiting www.churchill.com.

Brake, the road safety charity, has added its voice to the call of organisations around the world to #SaveKidsLives as part of the United Nations’ third Global Road Safety Week (4-10 May 2015). In the run up to the UK general election on 7 May, through its GO 20 campaign, Brake is calling on all parties to commit to a 20mph default urban speed limit as the best way to protect children and enable them to enjoy walking and cycling without fear.

Brake, supported by tyre manufacturer Bridgestone, is revealing survey results showing widespread support among parents for a 20mph urban speed limit, which is even higher among those who have already experienced the benefits. Four in five parents (79%) who already live in widespread 20mph areas support changing the default, compared with seven in 10 (72%) in non-20mph areas. Parents who say they ‘strongly’ agree with the idea goes up from one in five (22%) to two in five (42%) among those who live in a 20mph area [1].

Children stand to benefit greatly from 20mph limits, as they are among our most vulnerable road users and unable to judge the speed of traffic above this speed [2]. The World Health Organisation is clear about the importance of 20mph limits in making walking and cycling safer for children and adults [3].

‘GOing 20’ in the UK can help stop our kids becoming part of horrifying statistics: globally, 500 children are killed on roads every day, and thousands more injured [4]. The UK has just witnessed its first rolling year increase in child road casualties in 20 years, with 16,640 casualties of all severities and 2,060 killed or seriously injured in the year ending September 2014 [5]. Increasingly local authorities are switching to 20 limits – it’s estimated 14 million people now live in these areas [6] – but Brake wants to see safer streets everywhere.

As well as calling for government action, Brake is asking all drivers to make their own personal commitment to the #SaveKidsLives campaign by pledging to stick to 20mph or below around homes, schools and shops. This gives drivers twice as much time to react in an emergency as at 30mph, for instance if a child steps out unexpectedly.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive, Brake, said:“It is a global travesty that so many children around the world are killed and injured on roads every day, and denied their right to safe, healthy, active travel. Even in the UK, a developed country with a comparatively good road safety record, thousands of children are killed and seriously injured every year, and the figures are now going in the wrong direction. As the #SaveKidsLives campaign makes clear, we need meaningful, sustained, long-term action to create a better world for our children, both in the UK and across the globe. We are appealing to UK drivers to do their bit by GOing 20 in communities, and to the UK government to change the national default urban speed limit to 20mph.”

Tyre manufacturer Bridgestone, who are sponsoring Brake’s GO 20 campaign, added their support. Consumer sales and marketing director Farrell Dolan said: “The increase in child road casualties is alarming and the statistics are a big cause for concern. We are big supporters of Brake’s efforts to reduce these figures through their GO 20 campaign.

“We are thrilled to be official sponsors of this initiative and we can’t wait to get to work. Bridgestone is putting its name alongside a hugely respected charity which carries out a great deal of selfless work. We echo Brake’s call to drivers to stick to 20mph or below around homes, schools and shops.”

Brake is the long-running coordinator of the UK’s national Road Safety Week, every November, involving thousands of schools, communities and organisations. Anyone can register to be a part of this huge awareness-raising event at www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk.

Fewer casualties: at 20, drivers have far more time to react in an emergency. Studies show when 20 limits replace 30, there are fewer casualties among pedestrians and cyclists [7].

More walking and cycling: danger from traffic is a major barrier in enabling more people to walk and cycle. Town and city-wide 20 limits have resulted in more people walking and cycling [8].

Healthier, happier people: More walking and cycling means healthier people, and more enjoyable outdoors activity for kids and adults. It helps communities interact and be communities.

Less pollution: GOing 20 means lower emissions from vehicle journeys [9]. Plus if more people can switch their commute or school run to foot or bike, it means less polluting traffic.

Lower costs: Poor health from inactivity costs society dearly [10]. Road casualties cost even more, due to the suffering and burden on health and emergency services [11]. Preventing casualties and improving health means GOing 20 pays for itself many times over [12]. It also helps people save money by choosing the cheapest ways to get about: foot and bike.

Full results

Q1. It has been proposed that the default urban speed limit be changed from 30mph to 20mph, with local authorities having the power to set higher speed limits on main routes. To what extent would you agree with this? (tick one

All respondents:

Strongly agree: 28%

Agree: 46%

Disagree: 11%

Strongly agree: 8%

Don’t know: 8%

Respondents who said they live in rural areas with no or very few 20mph speed limits:

Strongly agree: 26%

Agree: 40%

Disagree: 17%

Strongly agree: 11%

Don’t know: 6%

Respondents who said they live in an urban/suburban area or village with no or very few 20mph speed limits:

Strongly agree: 24%

Agree: 48%

Disagree: 13%

Strongly agree: 9%

Don’t know: 7%

Respondents who said they live in an urban/suburban area or village with some 20mph zones:

Strongly agree: 22%

Agree: 52%

Disagree: 11%

Strongly agree: 9%

Don’t know: 7%

Respondents who said they live in an urban/suburban area or village with widespread 20mph limits:

Strongly agree: 42%

Agree: 37%

Disagree: 7%

Strongly agree: 3%

Don’t know: 10%

Brake

Brake is a national road safety charity that exists to stop the needless deaths and serious injuries that happen on roads every day, make streets and communities safer for everyone, and care for families bereaved and injured in road crashes. Brake promotes road safety awareness, safe and sustainable road use, and effective road safety policies. We do this through national campaigns, community education, services for road safety professionals and employers, and by coordinating the UK's flagship road safety event every November, Road Safety Week. Brake is a national, government-funded provider of support to families and individuals devastated by road death and serious injury, including through a helpline and support packs.

Brake was founded in the UK in 1995, and now has domestic operations in the UK and New Zealand, and works globally to promote action on road safety.

Road crashes are not accidents; they are devastating and preventable events, not chance mishaps. Calling them accidents undermines work to make roads safer, and can cause insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by needless casualties.

Bridgestone

The largest manufacturer of tyres and rubber products worldwide, Bridgestone leads the way in quality, technologically innovative goods and services and is a trusted brand that goes from strength to strength.

Established in 1931 in the small town of Kurume, Japan on the island of Kyushu by its founder Shojiro Ishibashi, today it is a multi-billion pound business with 178 manufacturing plants, in 25 countries and a presence in over 150 markets worldwide.

Always seeking to be the best at what it does, Bridgestone is focused on its mission of “serving society with superior quality” through an enviable range of products that satisfy the needs of the customer and society as a whole.

Brake is a national road safety and sustainable transport charity, founded in 1995, that exists to stop the needless deaths and serious injuries that happen on roads every day, make streets and communities safer for everyone, and care for families bereaved and injured in road crashes. Brake promotes road safety awareness, safe and sustainable road use, and effective road safety policies.

We do this through national campaigns, community education, services for road safety professionals and employers, and by coordinating the UK's flagship road safety event every November, Road Safety Week. Brake is a national, government-funded provider of support to families and individuals devastated by road death and serious injury, including through a helpline and support packs.

Road crashes are not accidents; they are devastating and preventable events, not chance mishaps. Calling them accidents undermines work to make roads safer, and can cause insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by needless casualties.

Early years educators are being encouraged to take part in a Beep Beep! Day by Brake, the road safety charity. The day, supported by Churchill Insurance, helps to teach children road safety basics and remind parents and drivers of their responsibility to help protect children when driving.

Childminders or nurseries can register to receive a free email resource pack with downloadable resources to run a great event, or buy one of Brake’s bumper resource packs including balloons, posters, stickers and certificates, a large road map and activity cards for £12.60 including postage. 26,000 tots across the UK were registered to take part in the first national Beep Beep! Day in March 2015. The next dates are 8 July and 25 November, during Road Safety Week. Early years educators can choose to run their event on one of these national days or at any other time of the year.

As part of the first national day on 18 March, Brake and Churchill Insurance urged drivers to ‘go 20’ and take more care in communities, as their latest survey puts the spotlight on irresponsible driving around schools and nurseries. Three in five parents (59%) reported witnessing speeding outside their child’s school or nursery in the past year, with the same number (60%) also reporting drivers pulling out or turning without looking properly.

Brake and Churchill’s survey of 1,000 parents of 5-11 year olds also found:

Half (47%) reported distracted driving, such as drivers on phones, around their child’s school.

Two thirds (65%) reported inconsiderate or illegal driving around their child’s school.

Three in 10 (30%) had witnessed children not being secured properly in child restraints.

Worryingly, there are indications that parents themselves could be part of the problem. A third (32%) admitted they don’t drive more safely, for instance by slowing down and looking more than usual, around schools and nurseries, and a quarter (24%) admitted they don’t even do so around their child’s own school or nursery. Three in five also admitted they don’t take more care around homes (62%) or shops (60%).

As well as teaching children aged two to seven road safety basics, Brake’s Beep Beep! Days raise awareness among parents and drivers about how they can keep kids safe. This year, Brake and Churchill are appealing to all drivers, including parents, to take responsibility for children’s safety, and help prevent the six child deaths and serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day [1].

In particular, drivers are being asked to stick to 20mph or below around schools, nurseries, homes and shops, to protect children and others on foot or bike.Find out aboutBrake’s GO 20 campaign.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive, Brake, said:“All children have the right to a healthy life, and to be able to play safely – rights that are universally enshrined in the UN convention on the rights of the child. And yet, in the UK, one of the most developed countries in the world, our children are often denied these rights because of the lethal danger posed by fast traffic and careless driving. That’s why, in a year when the UN is asking people across the world to help #SaveKidsLives on roads, we’re calling on UK drivers to take the lead in making roads safer for children – by going 20mph or less and taking more care in communities. As well as educating kids about road danger, we hope the Beep Beep! Day project will serve as an inspiration for parents and drivers to help reduce that danger.”

Gus Park, director ofChurchill Car Insurance, said: “We are very proud to be supporting Beep Beep! Day once again this year. Too many children die or are seriously injured on our roads each day. Beep Beep! Day is a great way of starting to educate young children on road safety, as well as raising awareness among drivers, including parents and grandparents, of the need to drive with extreme care when young children are about.”

In 2014, 15,000 children took part in a Beep Beep! Day. Brake encourages nurseries, playgroups, infant schools, children's centres and childminders to run the event on one of three dates – in 2015, these are 18 March, 8 July and 15 November – or on whatever day is best for them. Nurseries receive a free electronic pack with downloadable resources, or can buy a bumper hard-copy pack for £12.60 (inc VAT) to help them run road safety activities and promote road safety to parents and the community.

Beep Beep! Days involve activities such as creating a poster of hand prints saying 'We hold hands', experimenting with toy cars to learn the words stop and go, and singing road safety songs. Activities are designed to help children to start understanding road safety, and to emphasise to parents and other adults their responsibilities in protecting children. Sponsorship raised by children helps Brake provide support for families bereaved and injured by road crashes and run community road safety campaigns.

When your child starts to walk with you around your community, talk to them about how they must always hold your hand. If your child is likely to pull away from you, use safety reins or a wrist strap. Hold hands until your child is at least eight, or longer depending on their development.

Make sure they understand the meaning of stop, traffic, danger, look, listen, walk don't run, and other key words. Encourage your child's nursery or playgroup to teach road safety through a Beep Beep! Day. Your child's learning will be more effective if they are taught about road safety at school as well as at home.

These results, released today (Wednesday 18 March 2015), are from a survey of 1,000 parents of children aged 5-11, conducted by independent survey company Surveygoo in March 2015.

Q1. Do you drive more safely (e.g. slowing down and looking around more) around the following? (tick all that apply)

Your own child’s school or nursery – 76%

Other schools and nurseries – 68%

Leisure facilities (e.g. parks, playgrounds, sports facilities) – 50%

Shops – 40%

Homes – 38%

None of the above – 15%

Q2. Have you witnessed any of the following bad driving behaviour around your child(ren)’s school or nursery in the past year? (tick all that apply)

Speeding – 59%

Pulling out/turning without looking properly – 60%

Inconsiderate/illegal parking – 65%

Road rage – 33%

Distracted driving (e.g. on phones) – 47%

Children not belted up properly in child restraints – 30%

None of the above – 11%

Brake

Brake is a national road safety charity that exists to stop the needless deaths and serious injuries that happen on roads every day, make streets and communities safer for everyone, and care for families bereaved and injured in road crashes. Brake promotes road safety awareness, safe and sustainable road use, and effective road safety policies. We do this through national campaigns, community education, services for road safety professionals and employers, and by coordinating the UK's flagship road safety event every November, Road Safety Week. Brake is a national, government-funded provider of support to families and individuals devastated by road death and serious injury, including through a helpline and support packs.

Brake was founded in the UK in 1995, and now has domestic operations in the UK and New Zealand, and works globally to promote action on road safety.

Road crashes are not accidents; they are devastating and preventable events, not chance mishaps. Calling them accidents undermines work to make roads safer, and can cause insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by needless casualties.

Churchill

Founded in 1989, Churchill is now one of the UK's leading providers of general insurance, offering car, home, travel and pet insurance cover over the phone or on-line.

Churchill general insurance policies are underwritten by UK Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England No 1179980. UK Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Churchill and UK Insurance Limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc. Customers can find out more about Churchill products or get a quote by calling 0800 200300 or visiting www.churchill.com.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has clarified its written guidance for driving examiners on appropriate speed in built-up areas. The move comes in response to concerns raised by Brake, the road safety charity, alongside the GO 20 coalition, over whether driving test candidates could potentially be penalised for driving at 20mph in 30mph areas, even where the lower speed is more appropriate to the road environment.

The GO 20 coalition calls for 20mph to become the default limit in cities, towns and villages, and appeals to drivers to slow down to 20mph or below around homes, schools and shops, even where the limit is still 30mph, to protect people on foot and bike.

The DT1 document that contains the guidance has been clarified to make it clearer that the speed limit is the absolute maximum and does not mean it is safe to drive at that speed:

"The speed limit is a limit and not a target and there are many instances especially in narrow residential streets when candidates may need to reduce their speed considerably lower than the speed limit – this should not be considered as a fault."

This reflects advice already given to examiners by the DVSA during training. All driving test candidates must demonstrate the ability to adapt their speed to prevailing road conditions, and drive at a speed that allows them to stop safely in the distance they can see to be clear.

Welcoming the change, Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive, Brake, said: "It is excellent news that the DVSA has responded to the GO 20 coalition's concerns and clarified their guidance. There is a growing consensus that 20mph is the most appropriate top speed to protect people on foot and bike in built-up areas. It is critical that drivers learn right from the start of their driving careers that speed limits are limits, not targets, and that slowing down is one of the most important things they can do to safeguard others. This change will help give drivers the confidence to make the choice to protect people, and slow down to 20mph in communities, even in areas where the limit is still 30mph."

BrakeBrake is a national road safety charity that exists to stop the needless deaths and serious injuries that happen on roads every day, make streets and communities safer for everyone, and care for families bereaved and injured in road crashes. Brake promotes road safety awareness, safe and sustainable road use, and effective road safety policies. We do this through national campaigns, community education, a Fleet Safety Forum, practitioner services, and by coordinating the UK's flagship road safety event every November, Road Safety Week. Brake is a national, government-funded provider of support to families and individuals devastated by road death and serious injury, including through a helpline and support packs.

Brake was founded in the UK in 1995, and now has domestic operations in the UK and New Zealand, and works globally to promote action on road safety.

Road crashes are not accidents; they are devastating and preventable events, not chance mishaps. Calling them accidents undermines work to make roads safer, and can cause insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by needless casualties.

On 10 June 2015 tens of thousands of children from hundreds of primary schools across the UK walked for safer roads, to encourage drivers to GO 20 around schools, homes and shops to protect children and other cyclists and pedestrians. The event also promoted the benefits of walking and cycling, and raised awareness of the fact that in the UK every day four children are seriously hurt or killed while walking.

A big thank you to all the schools that took part, helping to teach pupils about road danger and the benefits of sustainable, active travel, promoting road safety to parents and drivers in the wider community, and raising valuable funds for Brake.

Little Plumstead Primary School in Norfolkhad a whole school assembly where they learned about car stopping distances and some road safety basics, before setting off on their Giant Walk. Older children paired up with the younger ones to walk through the streets around the school, and parents stayed to watch the very long crocodile of children carrying banners they had made at home. Over 200 children took part, and raised an amazing £507.50 on the day.

Ripley Junior School in Derbyshire had a great afternoon of activities which included road safety talks in class, before hitting the streets with local police and parents also getting involved. They managed to raise a fantastic£668.03 to support Brake’s campaigns for safer roads and to support bereaved and injured victims of road crashes.

Barmston Village Primary School in Sunderland incorporated their Giant Walk into their Health and Safety Week activities, where they learned how to keep themselves safe through road safety talks in class, and roleplaying in the playground. Children dressed as police officers and directed the others on bikes and scooters around road crossings drawn on the playground, baked traffic light biscuits, and drew pictures of all the fun things they had done to take home.

250 children from Trinity St Peter's in Merseyside raised a brilliant £341.59, using their Giant Walk to initiate aparking pledge with the local community: allowing parents to park on unoccupied driveways. Alongside the walk and road safety talks in class, the children created and displayed a massive banner highlighting the importance of road safety outside their school.

Sperrinview Special School in County Tyrone invited their local police officer to speak to children about the importance of road safety, who then escorted them on their Giant Walk. The school is on an extremely busy road, with many drivers going at 40mph, so the children made and carried posters encouraging them to GO20. The school also raised a fantastic £338 for Brake alongside their walk.

Aboyne Primary School in Aberdeenshire were the top fundraisers this year, raising an amazing £1296.34. They made banners to take on their Giant Walk, and calledfor safer roads in their community and around the school grounds when dropping off and collecting children.

Parents, volunteers and staff joined 240 children atGresham Primary School in Croydon for aRoad Safety afternoon packed with fun activities, including the local road safety officers from the council joining the children for an assembly. After roleplaying on road crossings they drew on the playground, the children headed out for their Giant Walk, chanting slogans and rhymes, and raising £65.30.

Children of all ages at Woolacombe School in Devon got involved in classroom activities before the Giant Walk, from Year 6 studying graphs in maths lessons, to Year 4 making road safety leaflets to share with the younger children. The older children also joined thePolice Liaison Officer for a speed workshop, using a speed gun outside the school to stop speeding drivers. Younger children made placards and banners for the walk, and the school raised £94.60 on a 'Wear Something Bright' day.

St Brigid's Catholic Primary School in Birmingham used their Giant Walk as an opportunity to involve the whole school community in the School Council's ongoing campaign for a reduced speed limit outside the school. Before the walk, the school councillors conducted a road safety survey and collected signatures on a petition to enforce a 20mph speed limit. They also held a protest which was supported by local councillor Steve Booton, and representatives from their MP Richard Burden's office. On the day of their Giant Walk, the children made banners and posters to carry, and were joined by their local community police officer, and raised a brilliant £430.14.

Shortbrook Primary School in Sheffield invited parents to join their children on a walk to the local park, where they hada huge family picnic. The fantastic event got the whole school involved, with children from nursery to Year 6 joining the Giant Walk, and raised an amazing £806.83 for Brake.

On 15 June 2016 over 25,000 children from schools across the UK walked for safer roads, to encourage drivers to GO 20 around schools, homes and shops to protect children and other cyclists and pedestrians. The event also promoted the benefits of walking and cycling, and raised awareness of the fact that in the UK every day four children are seriously hurt or killed while walking.

A big thank you to all the schools that took part, helping to teach pupils about road danger and the benefits of sustainable, active travel, promoting road safety to parents and drivers in the wider community, and raising valuable funds for Brake.

The children at St John the Baptist C of E Primary School in Penistone had lots of fun showing off their posters as they walked around the local village. A local councillor and staff from their local Tesco store also joined them, encouraging drivers to slow down and supporting their message of not driving to school. Check them out in action in our 2016 video.

Pupils and parents from St John’s C of E Primary School in Harrow, London, joined forces to campaign for safer roads in their community. The children made their own placards and raised awareness in their local community, encouraging drivers to slow down. Teachers said they found it a really positive experience, bringing the school communities together to help raise awareness of road safety. Fantastically, alongside all of their hard work they raised more than £1000 for Brake!

Brake’s mascot Zak the Zebra joined more than 300 children from Neilston Primary School in Scotland. They learned about how to be safe on their walk before meeting up with another school and holding a mini road show. A local police officer talked about the importance of road safety and school principal teacher Jane McDermott said “Watching the children out in the village gives a great feeling of togetherness and community as well as promoting the importance of road safety.

At St Augustine’s Academy, Bedfordshire, in partnership with Dunstable Town Council, the children played road safety games and discussed how to be safe when crossing the road. They then created their own posters and used these, along with Brake’s, to take to the streets during a long two-mile walk to raise awareness of road safety in their local community. The children enjoyed using their posters to communicate important messages about slowing down to drivers and the young people who participated on the walk continued to learn about road safety at Junior Wardens - an after school programme.

Lots of laughs and fun was had at the 11th Walsall Rainbows in West Midlands. The girls really enjoyed learning about road safety all term and completed their road safety badge. They also made posters which they showed their parents and told them the importance of being safe on the roads. They loved getting their stickers for completing the walk and found the resources really informative.

River Beach Primary School didn’t let the soggy weather dampen their walk as they met in the morning and all walked to school together, campaigning for drivers to slow down. They were met at the school gates by their teachers, congratulating them on their walk before dispersing into class to continue their school day.

400 children took part at Carnmoney Primary School in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, who managed to raise a wonderful £381.60! Alongside their walk around the community where they campaigned for safer roads, they held different road safety activities within class. They also had a poster colouring competition and the winner got theirs made into a placard to carry on their walk!

Barmston Village School went on their walk outside of their school gates so that the local community in Durham could notice them. They took their ‘slow down’ banners, having lots of fun spreading the message of being safe around roads. In class they made their own posters on the different issues surrounding road safety and the importance of drivers slowing down on their roads.

In Liverpool, over 1000 children took part in road safety activities which emphasised the importance of St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Infant and Junior School’s Giant Walk. School Council Representatives met and discussed ideas to raise awareness of road safety prior to the event. A competition was launched to design the best road safety poster; these posters were used on the day to encourage drivers in their community to slow down. The children also had lots of fun chanting and making their voices heard. They even had their parents out campaigning while they stood opposite the school with their own posters and banners and invited families to complete a ‘Family Road Safety Pledge’ to show how everyone works together to ensure their children’s safety.

Red Oaks Primary School in Wiltshire took what they’d learnt throughout the year on road safety and incorporated it into their walk. Alongside their lessons on road safety and discussion on how to be safe and be seen in assembly, they took to the streets to tell drivers to slow down. They also raised £209.92 to help continue Brake’s work.

Local police officers visited Gayton Junior School in Derby on their Giant Walk to help their 360 children cross the road. The children’s parents also joined in, helping to raise awareness of the importance of slowing down. In preparation for their walk, the children made informative posters and discussed road safety in class. They raised a fantastic £115.15 for Brake!

As the clocks spring forward this Sunday, politicians are being reminded that the way Britain sets its clocks is wasting hours of potentially productive daylight and creating unnecessary risk on our roads. Brake, the road safety charity, is calling on all political parties to commit to putting the clocks forward an hour year round, a move which would make the most of available daylight, and bring about lighter afternoons and evenings, and therefore safer streets, in the winter months.

With more people travelling in daylight rather than darkness, road journeys would become safer for all, especially vulnerable pedestrians and cyclists. It has been estimated that moving the clocks to GMT +1 in winter and GMT +2 in summer would prevent 80 deaths and hundreds of serious injuries on UK roads every year [1], preventing needless suffering and saving the NHS £138 million a year in the process [2].

Lighter, safer evenings could also encourage more recreational walking and cycling. Combined with Brake’s GO 20 campaign for 20mph limits in cities, towns and villages, this would mean a powerful boost for healthy, active lifestyles. Brake is reminding that at all times of year by slowing down to 20mph in built up areas, drivers can make a personal contribution to making roads safer for those on foot and bike.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive, Brake, the road safety charity, said:“Putting the clocks forward by an hour year-round is a simple move that would have a wide range of benefits for society, including helping to cut devastating road casualties. With more daylight available in the afternoons and evenings, people would be safer and feel more confident getting out and about on foot or bike, whether to get back from school or work or for recreation. Our communities would be more social, enjoyable places. As British summertime gets underway, we’re calling on whoever forms the next government to waste no time, and implement these changes.”

About the Lighter Later campaign

Brake is part of a coalition of organisations campaigning for the clocks to go forward for an hour year round, making it GMT +1 in winter and GMT +2 in summer. This simple change would make our evenings lighter and give us more daylight during waking hours. It's estimated this would result in 80 fewer road deaths and hundreds fewer serious injuries each year [3], preventing unnecessary suffering and saving the NHS £138million annually [4].

It would also cut 447,000 tonnes of CO2 pollution [5], and save us all on our bills, because we would have to put our lights on less. Not to mention a big boost to leisure, tourism, and healthy life-styles because we get a bit more daylight to play with. Find out more at www.lighterlater.org.

In January 2012, despite widespread support from the Lighter Later coalition, MPs, and letters from 26,300 members of the public, a Daylight Saving Bill which would have compelled the government to review and act on the evidence for changing the clocks, ran out of time in the House of Commons, preventing more than 140 MPs who had stayed to vote from doing so.

Brake

Brake is a national road safety charity that exists to stop the needless deaths and serious injuries that happen on roads every day, make streets and communities safer for everyone, and care for families bereaved and injured in road crashes. Brake promotes road safety awareness, safe and sustainable road use, and effective road safety policies. We do this through national campaigns, community education, services for road safety professionals and employers, and by coordinating the UK's flagship road safety event every November, Road Safety Week. Brake is a national, government-funded provider of support to families and individuals devastated by road death and serious injury, including through a helpline and support packs.

Brake was founded in the UK in 1995, and now has domestic operations in the UK and New Zealand, and works globally to promote action on road safety.

Road crashes are not accidents; they are devastating and preventable events, not chance mishaps. Calling them accidents undermines work to make roads safer, and can cause insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by needless casualties.

End notes

[1] Report 368, a new assessment of the likely effects on road accidents of adopting a GMT+1/GMT+2 regime, Transport Research Laboratory, 1998[2] Department for Transport, A Safer Way: Consultation on Making Britain’s Roads the Safest in the World, 2009[3] Report 368, a new assessment of the likely effects on road accidents of adopting a GMT+1/GMT+2 regime, Transport Research Laboratory, 1998[4] Department for Transport, A Safer Way: Consultation on Making Britain’s Roads the Safest in the World, 2009[5] Chong, Y. Garnsey, E. Hill, S. & Desobry, F. Daylight Saving, Electricity Demand and Emissions; Exploratory Studies from Great Britain, 2009http://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/people/ewg/091022_dst.pdf

Anyone working with children aged two to seven can host a Beep Beep! Day on a day of their choice, as part of this UK-wide initiative by Brake andChurchill Car Insurance, which involved 27,000 children last year.

Beep Beep! Daysinvolve running creative, educational activities using guidance and resources from Brake, such as creating a poster of hand prints saying ‘we hold hands’, singing road safety songs and baking traffic light biscuits. The activities teach tots the road safety basics and encourage parents to consider the vital steps they need to take to keep their family safe. Children taking part can raise funds in support of Brake’s work campaigning for safer roads and supporting bereaved and injured crash victims.

Beep Beep! Days are also a great way for nurseries, playgroups and parents to get behind Brake’s GO 20 campaign.GO 20calls for safer roads in communities so families can walk and cycle for their health, enjoyment and sustainable travel. Brake is calling for action from authorities to make walking and cycling safer, and appealing to drivers to slow down to 20mph around homes, schools and shops.Brake can send out a GO 20 press release to local media for Beep Beep! Day participants, to get the message out.

REGISTER!Nurseries, playgroups, childminders, infant schools and children’s centres can sign up now to run a Beep Beep! Day and receive a FREE bumper resource pack, including posters, stickers and activity ideas. Go towww.brake.org.uk/beepbeepday,call 01484 559909 or emailbeepbeep@brake.org.uk.

Julie Townsend, Brake deputy chief executive, says:“As the weather warms up and more families start getting out and about, spring is an ideal time for nurseries and playgroups to promote road safety, to help save little lives. Organising a Beep Beep! Day is a fun, simple way to teach tots and infants the road safety basics, plus it’s great for persuading parents and everyone in the area that protecting children on roads is vital. Brake provides a bumper pack of resources to help you run a great Beep Beep! Day and get the road safety message out. We can also help publicise your event through local media, appealing to drivers to slow down to protect families in your community. We’re calling on anyone who works with two to seven year-olds to register to be part of this life-saving initiative.”

Steve Barrett, head of Motor new business at Churchill Insurance, said: “We are proud to once again be supporting Beep Beep! Day, an initiative that helps hundreds of nurseries and playgroups across the UK raise awareness about road safety. Too many children are injured or killed on our roads each day. Beep Beep! Day is a great way to start educating tots and infants on road safety, as well as raising awareness among drivers, including parents and grandparents, of the need to drive with extreme care when young children are about.”

About children’s road safetyTraffic is the second biggest killer of children, and the biggest non-medical killer [1]. In 2012, 61 children were killed and 2,211 were seriously injured on UK roads: that’s six under-16s seriously hurt or killed each day. The majority (85%) of children killed or seriously injured on roads are on foot or bicycle [2].

About BrakeBrake is an independent road safety charity, originating in the UK in 1995 and now with domestic operations in the UK and New Zealand, and working globally to promote action on road safety.

Brake exists to stop the needless deaths and serious injuries that happen on roads every day, make streets and communities safer for everyone, and care for families bereaved and injured in road crashes. Brake promotes road safety awareness, safe and sustainable road use and effective road safety policies. We do this through national campaigns,community education, a Fleet Safety Forum, services forroad safety practitioners, and by coordinating the UK’s flagship road safety event every November,Road Safety Week.Brake is a national, government-funded provider of support to families and individuals devastated by road death and serious injury, including through a helpline and support packs.Road crashes are not accidents; they are devastating and preventable events, not chance mishaps. Calling them accidents undermines work to make roads safer, and can cause insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by needless casualties.ChurchillFounded in 1989, Churchill is now one of the UK's leading providers of general insurance, offering car, home, travel and pet insurance cover over the phone or on-line.

Drivers can Pledge to – stay under limits, slow down to 20mph around schools, homes and shops to protect others, slow right down for bends, brows and bad weather, and avoid overtaking.

Everyone can Pledge to – speak out for slowing down and help drivers understand that the slower they drive, the more chance they have of avoiding a crash and saving a life.

Driving slowly is one of the most important things drivers can do to protect themselves and others. That means staying well within limits, slowing down to 20mph around homes, schools and shops, slowing right down for bends, brows and bad weather, and avoiding overtaking.

It’s essential to safe and considerate driving because slowing down gives you much more time to react to people and hazards around you, and avoid hitting someone or something. Slowing down helps make our roads and communities safer, greener, nicer places, and can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency.

Limits are limits, not targets

Stay well under limits, rather than hovering around them. Look out for signs, including temporary limits, and obey them, regularly glancing at your speedo. Know which limits are usually in place on different roads (see the Highway Code) and if unsure, err on the side of caution and slow down. It will help you stay safe and avoid fines and penalty points.

Keep at least a two-second gap (four in the wet) behind the vehicle in front on any road, but especially at higher speeds – it’s your braking space in a crisis.

GO 20 in towns and villages

Sometimes the speed limit is too fast for safety. The UK’s default limit in built-up areas is 30mph, although more and more local authorities are implementing 20 limits across towns, cities and villages to protect people on foot and bike.

Drivers can make a big difference now by committing to GO 20 in all communities: slowing down to 20mph around homes, schools and shops, even where the limit is still 30mph. You’ll help to make streets and communities safer, greener, more pleasant places.

At 20mph, your stopping distance is about half that at 30mph, so GOing 20 makes a big difference to safety, but it won’t be a big inconvenience. Your journeys should be smoother and use less petrol, and your journey times are unlikely to be significantly longer. Driving at 20mph in communities gives you time to react in an emergency, such as if a child runs out.

Go slow on rural roads

Rural roads are often bendy and narrow with poor visibility and hidden junctions. Even if you know the road well, you never know what’s round the corner. The majority of driver and passenger deaths happen on rural roads, often due to drivers taking bends too fast, overtaking, or not being able to react to unexpected hazards.

That’s why slowing down on rural roads is crucial. The derestricted limit (60mph for cars and vans) is generally far too fast for safety – so stay well beneath this and slow right down for bends, brows, dips and junctions, and in bad weather. You should be able to come to a stop within the space you can see.

Slowing down on rural roads also helps people to enjoy the countryside, and people in rural communities to get about, by being able to cycle, walk and horse-ride without being endangered. Rural roads are shared – not drivers’ private race tracks.

Go slow in bad weather

Slowing down – or avoiding driving at all if you can – is crucial to staying safe in bad weather. Driving in wet or icy conditions significantly increases your stopping distances, while fog and mist make it far harder to react to hazards. Read our ABC of bad weather driving.

Don’t overtake

Overtaking on single carriageways is incredibly risky and should be avoided. It is impossible to accurately judge the speed of approaching traffic, or the length of empty road in front of you, and when overtaking this can be fatal. The gap between you and oncoming traffic disappears surprisingly fast. If you and an oncoming vehicle are both driving at 60mph, the gap between you is closing at 120mph, or 60 metres a second. So a small error of judgement can easily result in multiple deaths.

That’s why it isn’t worth the risk. Often overtaking makes little difference to your arrival time, but could mean you and someone else never arriving at all. So never overtake on single carriageways unless absolutely essential, such as because you need to pass a stationary or extremely slow moving vehicle. Only then do so if certain there’s enough space to get past without speeding and with no risk of someone coming the other way. Otherwise just hang back and relax.

Ditch the excuses

Some drivers use all sorts of excuses for speeding: they don’t notice their speed creeping up, they feel pressured by other drivers, they’re in a rush, or think they can handle it because of their fast reaction times and good brakes. The fact is, slowing down is essential to safe driving, no matter who you are or what you’re driving. Studies have proven the link between speed and safety: reducing average speeds leads to fewer crashes and casualties, and if you speed, you’re far more likely to crash.

The laws of physics mean that going even a bit faster makes a big difference to your stopping distance and therefore your ability to react and stop. For example, increasing your speed by 25%, from 40mph to 50mph, increases your stopping distance by 47%, from 36m to 53m. Learn more about stopping distances.

In short, slowing down is vital to safety, especially in protecting our most vulnerable road users like children, and enabling people to walk and cycle without fearing for their lives. And it’s not a big ask. All drivers should be able to keep an eye on their speed, and protecting people should always be the priority over getting there a few minutes faster.

Primary school children across East Anglia are marching for safer streets today as part of the charity Brake's Giant Walking Bus (see below for participating schools). They are joining more than 100,000 children across the UK taking part in the event, which calls on drivers to 'GO 20' – slow down to 20 or below around homes, schools and shops – to protect kids on foot and enable more to walk. The event also calls for more safety measures such as widespread 20 limits, safe pavements, paths and crossings.

In a survey by Brake of more than 300 kids from East Anglia taking part, children explained their need for safer streets to enable them to get out more on foot and bike. It found:

eight in 10 (78%) think more kids would be able to walk or cycle to school if roads were made safer

more than half (51%) say their route to school needs to be made safer for walking and cycling

two in three (66%) want more paths, cycle paths and crossings in their neighbourhood they can use to walk or cycle to the park, shops or to see friends

one in five (22%) report being scared by traffic when walking or cycling in their neighbourhood.

Statistics revealed today by Brake show that in East Anglia, more primary school children are driven to school than walk or cycle: 51% are driven while 43% walk and 2% cycle [1]. Research shows parents' concerns for kids' safety are a major barrier to getting more children walking and cycling [2], impacting on children's health and contributing to congestion and traffic danger.

Every school day in the UK, 23 children are run over and hurt when walking or cycling to or from school and four of these children are killed or suffer serious, sometimes life-long, injuries. That's 713 children killed or seriously injured walking or cycling to school each year [3]. Death on the road is the biggest non-medical killer of school aged children, greater than drowning, falls or accidental poisoning combined [4].

The GO 20 campaign – by Brake and a coalition of charities – calls for 20mph to become the norm in built-up areas, and appeals to drivers to slow down, to make roads safer for kids and adults on foot and bike. A recent World Health Organisation report on pedestrian safety urged widespread 20mph limits where people live, as they are proven to reduce casualties and encourage walking and cycling [5].

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive of Brake, the road safety charity, said: "Many parents are in a difficult situation when it comes to letting their kids walk or cycle, often forced to weigh up the benefits of their kids being active and getting out and about with the risk of their child being knocked down and hurt. We need to make it easier for them by making roads safer for children and people of all ages, to help kids have the fun, active childhood they deserve – and a proven way to do this is to reduce traffic speeds. We're appealing to drivers to listen to the thousands of kids marching today, and take the simple step of slowing down to 20mph or less around homes, schools and shops. It's a case of putting kids before getting there a few minutes faster. We're also urging the government – and more local authorities in East Anglia – to work towards 20mph being the norm across all our communities, to help kids walk without being put in danger."

About Giant Walking Bus

Brake's Giant Walking Bus is an annual event in primary schools where children learn about traffic pollution and danger, and transport choices. Schools taking part get their kids to march (in a crocodile of supervised kids, holding hands on safe pavements, or around the school's grounds) which gives kids a voice, helping them tell drivers to slow down and look out for people on foot. Kids can be sponsored to take part, helping fund Brake's campaigns and services for families bereaved and injured by road crashes.

About the GO 20 campaign

GO 20 is a coalition campaign backed by 12 charities calling for all our communities to GO 20, on the basis that GOing 20 means:

Fewer casualties: at 20, drivers have more time to react and stop in time if they need to. Studies show when 20 limits replace 30, it means fewer casualties among pedestrians and cyclists [6].

More walking and cycling: danger from traffic is a major barrier in enabling more people to walk and cycle. Town and city-wide 20 limits have resulted in more people walking and cycling [7].

Healthier, happier people: More walking and cycling means healthier people, and more enjoyable outdoors activity for kids and adults. It helps communities interact and be communities.

Less pollution: GOing 20 means lower emissions from vehicle journeys [8]. Plus if more people can switch their commute or school run to foot or bike, it means less polluting traffic.

Lower costs: Poor health from inactivity costs society dearly [9]. Road casualties cost even more, due to the suffering and burden on health and emergency services [10]. Preventing casualties and improving health means GOing 20 pays for itself many times over [11]. It also helps people save money by choosing the cheapest ways to get about: foot and bike.

Deciding at what age to let children walk or cycle to school unsupervised is a difficult decision for many parents, who are faced with having to weigh up the benefits of their child living an active lifestyle with the threat of their child being hurt by traffic. Research shows many are put off letting their child get out and about by traffic danger [12]. Making roads safer helps more parents to let kids walk or cycle.

Parents who are worried that their child's route to school isn't safe enough have a number of options. If it's possible, they could walk with their child to school, helping to keep them safe, or set up a walking bus with the help of other parents. They could also work with the school to set up a local campaign for safer roads, calling for measures such as a 20mph limit, crossings, pavements and paths. They can also check if their child's school runs practical pedestrian and cyclist training, and encourage them to contact the local authority to provide this if they don't.

Brake is an independent road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the five deaths and 66 serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day and to care for families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. Brake runs awareness-raising campaigns, community education programmes, events such as Road Safety Week (18-24 November 2013), and a Fleet Safety Forum, providing advice to companies. Brake's support division cares for road crash victims through a helpline and other services.

Road crashes are not accidents; they are devastating and preventable events, not chance mishaps. Calling them accidents undermines work to make roads safer, and can cause insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by needless casualties.

End notes:

[1] Statistics requested from Department for Transport as part of National Travel Survey 2009-10

[2] Survey of 1,000 parents of children under 16 conducted by Redshift research on behalf of Brake and Churchill Car Insurance in March 2012

[7] Where widespread 20 limits have been introduced levels of walking and cycling increased by 20% Citywide Rollout of 20mph speed limits, Bristol City Council Cabinet, 2012

[8] Environmental effects of 30 km/h in urban areas – with regard to exhaust emissions and noise, The Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, 1999

[9] The annual costs of physical inactivity in England are estimated at £8.2 billion. At least five a week - evidence on the impact of physical activity and its relationship to health - a report from the Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, 2004

[11] In Bristol, 20mph resulted in a massive return on investment because of cost savings to the health service through increased physical activity. They used the World Health Organisation's Health Economic Assessment Tool to estimate the changes in costs. They found for every £1 spent they saw a return of £24.72 through increased walking and £7.47 through increased in cycling. Citywide Rollout of 20mph speed limits, Bristol City Council Cabinet, 2012. Reducing speeds in urban environments reduces casualties. For each 1mph speed reduction, casualties decrease by 5%, The effects of drivers' speed on the frequency of road accidents, Transport Research Laboratory, 2000, fewer crashes reduces the burden on the NHS, emergency services and local economy. Each death on roads costs £1.7 million and each serious injury costs £190,000, Reported road casualties Great Britain 2011, Department for Transport, 2012

[12] Survey of 1,000 parents of children under 16 conducted by Redshift research on behalf of Brake and Churchill Car Insurance in March 2012

2,667 kids from 21 schools in the East Midlands are marching for safer streets today as part of the charity Brake's Giant Walking Bus (see below for participating schools). They are joining more than 100,000 children across the UK taking part in the event, which calls on drivers to 'GO 20' – slow down to 20 or below around homes, schools and shops – to protect kids on foot and enable more to walk. The event also calls for more safety measures such as widespread 20 limits and safe pavements, paths and crossings.

In a survey by Brake of more than 450 kids from the East Midlands taking part, children explained their need for safer streets to enable them to get out more on foot and bike. It found:

eight in 10 (78%) think more kids would be able to walk or cycle to school if roads were made safer

four in ten (43%) say their route to school needs to be made safer for walking and cycling

seven in ten (72%) want more paths, cycle paths and crossings in their neighbourhood they can use to walk or cycle to the park, shops or to see friends

three in 10 (29%) report being scared by traffic when walking or cycling in their neighbourhood.

Statistics revealed today by Brake show that in the East Midlands, almost as many primary school children are now driven to school as walk: 45% are driven, while 50% walk and less than 1% cycle [1]. Research shows parents' concerns for kids' safety are a major barrier to getting more children walking and cycling [2], impacting on children's health and contributing to congestion and traffic danger.

Every school day in the UK, 23 children are run over and hurt when walking or cycling to or from school and four of these children are killed or suffer serious, sometimes life-long, injuries. That's 713 children killed or seriously injured walking or cycling to school each year [3]. Death on the road is the biggest non-medical killer of school aged children, greater than drowning, falls or accidental poisoning combined [4].

The GO 20 campaign – by Brake and a coalition of charities – calls for 20mph to become the norm in built-up areas, and appeals to drivers to slow down, to make roads safer for kids and adults on foot and bike. A recent World Health Organisation report on pedestrian safety urged widespread 20mph limits where people live, as they are proven to reduce casualties and encourage walking and cycling [5].

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive of Brake, the road safety charity, said: "Many parents are in a difficult situation when it comes to letting their kids walk or cycle, often forced to weigh up the benefits of their kids being active and getting out and about with the risk of their child being knocked down and hurt. We need to make it easier for them by making roads safer for children and people of all ages, to help kids have the fun, active childhood they deserve – and a proven way to do this is to reduce traffic speeds. We're appealing to drivers to listen to the thousands of kids marching today, and take the simple step of slowing down to 20mph or less around homes, schools and shops. It's a case of putting kids before getting there a few minutes faster. We're also urging government – and more local authorities in the East Midlands – to work towards 20mph being the norm across all communities, to help kids walk without being put in danger."

About Giant Walking Bus

Brake's Giant Walking Bus is an annual event in primary schools where children learn about traffic pollution and danger, and transport choices. Schools taking part get their kids to march (in a crocodile of supervised kids, holding hands on safe pavements, or around the school's grounds) which gives kids a voice, helping them tell drivers to slow down and look out for people on foot. Kids can be sponsored to take part, helping fund Brake's campaigns and services for families bereaved and injured by road crashes.

About the GO 20 campaign

GO 20 is a coalition campaign backed by 12 charities calling for all our communities to GO 20, on the basis that GOing 20 means:

Fewer casualties: at 20, drivers have more time to react and stop in time if they need to. Studies show when 20 limits replace 30, it means fewer casualties among pedestrians and cyclists [6].

More walking and cycling: danger from traffic is a major barrier in enabling more people to walk and cycle. Town and city-wide 20 limits have resulted in more people walking and cycling [7].

Healthier, happier people: More walking and cycling means healthier people, and more enjoyable outdoors activity for kids and adults. It helps communities interact and be communities.

Less pollution: GOing 20 means lower emissions from vehicle journeys [8]. Plus if more people can switch their commute or school run to foot or bike, it means less polluting traffic.

Lower costs: Poor health from inactivity costs society dearly [9]. Road casualties cost even more, due to the suffering and burden on health and emergency services [10]. Preventing casualties and improving health means GOing 20 pays for itself many times over [11]. It also helps people save money by choosing the cheapest ways to get about: foot and bike.

Deciding at what age to let children walk or cycle to school unsupervised is a difficult decision for many parents, who are faced with having to weigh up the benefits of their child living an active lifestyle with the threat of their child being hurt by traffic. Research shows many are put off letting their child get out and about by traffic danger [12]. Making roads safer helps more parents to let kids walk or cycle.

Parents who are worried that their child's route to school isn't safe enough have a number of options. If it's possible, they could walk with their child to school, helping to keep them safe, or set up a walking bus with the help of other parents. They could also work with the school to set up a local campaign for safer roads, calling for measures such as a 20mph limit, crossings, pavements and paths. They can also check if their child's school runs practical pedestrian and cyclist training, and encourage them to contact the local authority to provide this if they don't.

Brake

Brake is an independent road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the five deaths and 66 serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day and to care for families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. Brake runs awareness-raising campaigns, community education programmes, events such as Road Safety Week (18-24 November 2013), and a Fleet Safety Forum, providing advice to companies. Brake's support division cares for road crash victims through a helpline and other services.

Road crashes are not accidents; they are devastating and preventable events, not chance mishaps. Calling them accidents undermines work to make roads safer, and can cause insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by needless casualties.

End notes:

[1] Statistics requested by Brake from the Department for Transport as part of National Travel Survey 2009-10

[2] Survey of 1,000 parents of children under 16 conducted by Redshift research on behalf of Brake and Churchill Car Insurance in March 2012

[7] Where widespread 20 limits have been introduced levels of walking and cycling increased by 20% Citywide Rollout of 20mph speed limits, Bristol City Council Cabinet, 2012

[8] Environmental effects of 30 km/h in urban areas – with regard to exhaust emissions and noise, The Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, 1999

[9] The annual costs of physical inactivity in England are estimated at £8.2 billion. At least five a week - evidence on the impact of physical activity and its relationship to health - a report from the Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, 2004

[11] In Bristol, 20mph resulted in a massive return on investment because of cost savings to the health service through increased physical activity. They used the World Health Organisation's Health Economic Assessment Tool to estimate the changes in costs. They found for every £1 spent they saw a return of £24.72 through increased walking and £7.47 through increased in cycling. Citywide Rollout of 20mph speed limits, Bristol City Council Cabinet, 2012. Reducing speeds in urban environments reduces casualties. For each 1mph speed reduction, casualties decrease by 5%, The effects of drivers' speed on the frequency of road accidents, Transport Research Laboratory, 2000, fewer crashes reduces the burden on the NHS, emergency services and local economy. Each death on roads costs £1.7 million and each serious injury costs £190,000, Reported road casualties Great Britain 2011, Department for Transport, 2012

[12] Survey of 1,000 parents of children under 16 conducted by Redshift research on behalf of Brake and Churchill Car Insurance in March 2012

As survey shows 7 in 10 kids are prevented from walking and cycling by traffic danger

19 November 2012

Brake, the road safety charityt: 01484 559909 e: news@brake.org.uk

Schools are being urged to get involved with a national campaign launched today (19 November) appealing to drivers and authorities to GO 20, to bring about a 2012 legacy of safe walking and cycling for everyone. Brake, the road safety charity, is calling on all educators to support the campaign as a survey released today shows that more than half of children worry about being hurt by traffic when out and about.

Thousands of schools across the UK are appealing to drivers to slow down to 20mph or below in communities, and calling for 20mph limits across built up areas, so children, families and adults can walk and cycle for their health and enjoyment, and as a cheap and sustainable travel choice, without being endangered.

Brake is encouraging schools to teach children and teenagers about the benefits of 20mph limits and staying safe when walking, cycling and in cars, and also to engage pupils in raising awareness among local drivers about the need to slow down to protect children. Educators can access guidance on this at www.roadsafetyweek.org.

Schools can also report their concerns about pupils' safety on local streets by calling Brake's Zak the Zebra hotline on 08000 68 7780 to receive a campaign action pack.

As the GO 20 campaign is launched at the start of Road Safety Week through street parties and demonstrations across the UK (see below), a survey of more than 8,000 children [1] age 7-11 by Brake and partners Brain Injury Group and Specsavers reveals how the majority of children are being prevented from leading active, healthy lifestyles by traffic danger:

Seven in 10 (70%) say they would be able to walk and cycle more if roads in their neighbourhood were less dangerous

More than three-quarters (77%) say drivers need to slow down around their home and school

Four in 10 (43%) say they have been hit or nearly hit while walking or cycling, and more than half (54%) worry about being hurt by traffic when out and about

A further survey of 280 [2] teachers across the UK reveals that the vast majority believe more should be done to keep children safe on the roads:

Nine in 10 (94%) believe roads around their schools and routes connecting their schools with local homes should be made safer for children walking and cycling.

Four in five believe roads around their school and routes connecting their schools with local homes would benefit from 20mph limits.

Brake is highlighting that slower speeds in towns, cities and villages can help deliver a post-2012 legacy of active communities, and prevent devastating casualties among pedestrians and cyclists, which increased in 2011 (see below). Many local authorities are recognising the benefits by implementing town and city-wide 20 limits. Brake is calling for: more authorities to follow suit; the government to work towards 20mph being the norm in communities; and drivers to pledge to GO 20in built up areas, even where 30 limits remain.

Why GO 20:

Fewer casualties: at 20, drivers have much more time to react, to help them stop in time if they need to, like if a child runs out. Studies show that when 20 limits replace 30, it means fewer casualties among pedestrians and cyclists [3].

More walking and cycling: danger from traffic is a major barrier in enabling more people to walk and cycle. Town and city-wide 20 limits have resulted in more people walking and cycling [4].

Healthier, happier people: More walking and cycling means healthier people, and more enjoyable outdoors activity for kids and adults. It helps communities interact and be communities.

Less pollution: GOing 20 means lower emissions from vehicle journeys [5]. Plus if more people can switch their commute or school run to foot or bike, it means less polluting traffic.

Lower costs: Poor health from inactivity costs society dearly [6]. Road casualties cost even more, due to the suffering and burden on health and emergency services [7]. Preventing casualties and improving health means GOing 20 pays for itself many times over [8]. It also helps people save money by choosing the cheapest ways to get about: foot and bike.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive of Brake, says: "Everyone should be able to walk and cycle in their community without fear or threat: it's a basic right, and GO 20 is about defending that. The 2012 Games helped us all realise the importance of being able to live active lifestyles. Critical to this is making our streets and communities safe places we can use and enjoy. Anyone who drives can help bring this about: pledge to GO 20 in communities, even where the limit's still 30: you'll be doing something good for people around you, and you'll hardly notice the difference to your journey. We're also calling on government and authorities everywhere to recognise the need for 20mph, and the huge demand for safe walking and cycling, and GO 20."

Danny Crates, Paralympics presenter, gold medal winner and GO 20 ambassador, says: "I am passionate about children being able to live healthy, happy, active lives: it's something all kids should be able to do, not just the privileged few. Bringing about the 2012 legacy we all want to see isn't only about providing sports facilities. It's also about making our towns, cities and villages places where kids and adults can get out and about – running, walking, cycling, visiting friends, going to the park – without being put in danger, or even being hurt or killed. That's why I'm behind GO 20, and appealing to everyone who's been inspired by the Games to get behind this important campaign."

Drivers and non-drivers can pledge their support for safer walking and cycling at go20.org.

More survey results

8,061 children age 7-11 gave their views through hands-up surveys in schools across the UK. As well as the results above:

72% said they would like to walk and cycle more than they do at present

75% would like more traffic-free cycle paths in their area, while 61% would like more footpaths, pavements and crossings, which they could use to get to school, the park, shops or to see friends

38% said they are not allowed to walk unaccompanied and 47% said they are not allowed to cycle unaccompanied.

Every day in the UK, 19 adults and seven children are mowed down and killed or seriously hurt when on foot or bike.

In 2011 pedestrian deaths and serious injuries went up significantly, and for the first time in 17 years. Pedestrian deaths increased by 12%, while serious injuries increased by 5%. 466 people were killed on foot in 2011 and 5,654 were seriously injured. Of these victims, 31% (1,901) were children: 50 child pedestrians were killed in 2011 and 1,851 suffered serious injuries.

Aaron Britt, 16, from Mansfield, was knocked down and killed by a speeding driver outside his college in October 2011. Aaron suffered severe head injuries and died the next day. Read more. Sue Britt, Aaron's mum, said: "Aaron was our only son and we feel empty without him. He was an exceptional young lad; he knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life and had set about making it happen. I urge drivers to slow down to 20mph or less where people are so you have time to stop if someone steps out. Simply making a commitment to slow down will mean you're helping to make roads safer, and it could prevent more people losing their lives needlessly, and other families going through the pain and heartache we have. Aaron was kind and thoughtful and did not deserve to die for making a mistake."

Notes for editors

GO 20 is a partnership campaign being launched by Brake at the start of Road Safety Week 2012 (19-25 November). Find out more at www.go20.org.

Brake is an independent road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the five deaths and 66 serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day and to care for families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. Brake runs awareness-raising campaigns, community education programmes, events such as Road Safety Week (19-25 November 2012), and a Fleet Safety Forum, providing advice to companies. Brake's support division cares for road crash victims through a helpline and other services.

Road Safety Week is the UK's flagship event to promote safer road use, coordinated annually by the charity Brake and involving thousands of schools, communities and organisations across the country. Road Safety Week 2012 takes place 19-25 November, with support from headline sponsors Brain Injury Group and Specsavers, plus regional sponsors Woop young driver insurance, Bubblebum UK Ltd, Fleet Support Group and Leigh Day & Co Solicitors.

Road crashes are not accidents; the use of the term 'accident' undermines work to reduce road risk and causes insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by drivers taking risks on roads.

End notes

[1] 8,061 children gave their views through 'hands-up' surveys in schools across the UK, Brake, 2012

[2] 280 teachers gave their opinions through written surveys in schools across the UK, Brake 2012.

[4] Where widespread 20 limits have been introduced levels of walking and cycling increased by 20% Citywide Rollout of 20mph speed limits, Bristol City Council Cabinet, 2012

[5] Environmental effects of 30 km/h in urban areas – with regard to exhaust emissions and noise, The Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, 1999

[6] The annual costs of physical inactivity in England are estimated at £8.2 billion. At least five a week - evidence on the impact of physical activity and its relationship to health - a report from the Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, 2004

[8] In Bristol, 20mph resulted in a massive return on investment because of cost savings to the health service through increased physical activity. They used the World Health Organisation's Health Economic Assessment Tool to estimate the changes in costs. They found for every £1 spent they saw a return of £24.72 through increased walking and £7.47 through increased in cycling. Citywide Rollout of 20mph speed limits, Bristol City Council Cabinet, 2012. Reducing speeds in urban environments reduces casualties. For each 1mph speed reduction, casualties decrease by 5%, The effects of drivers' speed on the frequency of road accidents, Transport Research Laboratory, 2000, fewer crashes reduces the burden on the NHS, emergency services and local economy. Each death on roads costs £1.7 million and each serious injury costs £190,000, Reported road casualties Great Britain 2011, Department for Transport, 2012

[9] These figures are from Reported road casualties Great Britain 2011, Department for Transport, 2011, and Police recorded injury road traffic collisions and casualties Northern Ireland annual report 2011, Police Service of Northern Ireland, 2012. Figures for children were requested from the Department for Transport and Police Service for Northern Ireland and are for children aged 0 – 17.

Fundraising is fun! Raise funds for Brake while spreading important road safety messages within nurseries, schools or colleges and across the wider community.

There are lots of ways that you (educators, parents and community groups) can get involved. Follow the links below for a range of ideas.

Tell us about your own fundraising ideas or discuss your options, complete this quick form, or contact Lisa at fundraise@brake.org.uk or on 01484 683294.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it // or on 01484 683Follow the links below for a range of ideas. Or, to tell us about your own fundraising ideas or discuss your options, complete this quick form, or contact Lisa at lkendall@brake.org.uk or on 01484 683294.Follow the links below for a range of ideas. Or, to tell us about your own fundraising ideas or discuss your options, complete this quick form, or contact Lisa at lkendall@brake.org.uk or on 01484 683294Beep Beep! day - teaching road safety to kids and parents through fun activities

On 12 June 2013 tens of thousands of children from hundreds of primary schools across the UK marched for safer roads, to encourage drivers to GO 20 around schools, homes and shops to protect children and other cyclists and pedestrians. The event also promoted the benefits of walking and cycling, and raised awareness of the fact that every school day 23 children are knocked down and hurt walking or cycling to or from school.

A big thank you to all the schools that took part, helping to teach pupils about road danger and the benefits of sustainable, active travel, promoting road safety to parents and drivers in the wider community, and raising valuable funds for Brake.

The Giant Walking Bus is at the heart of Brake’s campaign for slower speeds in communities to enable children and adults to walk and cycle without fear or threat. Brake used the event to get the message out through the media to drivers to slow down to 20mph around homes, schools and shops. Brake also appealed to local authorities across the UK to implement more 20mph limits and other measures to protect people, like safe pavements, paths and crossings. Find out more about our GO 20 campaign.

Read about our star schools from 2013

Whittle-le-Woods Primary Schoolin Chorley took part in the Giant Walking Bus for the third time, and had another memorable day. The children made posters, banners and signs to take with them on their march, conducted a traffic survey and also tested their road safety knowledge and practised taking safe routes to school using homemade road signs and marked-out roads in their playground. The school has campaigned for a 20mph limit outside their school which is now in place but were keen to get the message out to drivers to stick to it. Their march was attended by the mayor of Chorley, who led the countdown to the march, and the local councillor, police officers and parents. Children taking part also kindly fundraised for Brake.The event generated a great deal of media interest, with regional tv and radio and two newspapers in attendance, speaking to teachers, parents and staff about why the march was so important.

Teaching assistant Jennifer Hall said: ‘We had a fantastic day and were supported by local police officers, the local councillor and the mayor of Chorley. All staff supported the event and we had some parents walking with us too – even the reporter from the radio station joined the bus with us! Through previous road safety events we now have a 20mph limit outside our school so what we need now is for all to abide by it and this was a great way to get that message across.’

Dormers Wells Junior School in Southall, London, ran lots of activities alongside their march. They held an assembly, used PowerPoint presentations and YouTube videos to aid road safety discussions and also made placards and posters bearing road safety slogans and messages. The children were dressed in bright colours on the walk and held banners and chanted slogans including 'Slow down - kill your speed!', 'Kids say slow down' and 'What do we want? Safe roads!' The children also fundraised to support Brake's work as part of their event.

Hafren Junior School in Newtown, Powys, teamed up with nearby Abermule Primary School and extended their Giant Walking Bus to a distance of five miles, linking the event to their Healthy Schools activities and promoting the benefits of walking to the children. The children also raised more than £220 for Brake. In addition to encouraging local drivers to slow down in their community via the Giant Walking Bus, the school has also been actively involved in other road safety initiatives. Following an observational study of local traffic, conducted by pupils from nine local schools, Mid and West Wales Fire and Resue Service, Powsy Road Safety and Powys Police joined the schools in launching a campaign promoting road safety for children. A junior road safety forum was set up with pupils from all nine schools helping to think of ways to tackle local issues such as parents not using appropriate child restraints and local resdients driving too fast within the community, and they were joined by Brake's mascot Zak the Zebra to help them raise road safety awareness locally.

St Joseph's RCVA Primary School and Victoria Lane Academy in Coundon, Bishop Auckland, teamed up to hold an extra large Giant Walking Bus event this year and get the message out to local drivers to take care and slow down around the local community. The children made their own posters and banners in advance of the big day, and took whistles and drums with them to give their march extra impact. They were also joined on the day by local PCSOs who helped to teach the children about being safe when out and about near roads and walked with the children on their march. The march also attracted the attention of the regional tv news and a local radio station, which both sent reporters and cameras along.

Mel Hutchinson, learning mentor at St Joseph's RCVA Primary school, said: 'The kids really loved it and the Giant Walking Bus has definitely become an annual event for us now.'

St Michael's Primary School in Figheldean in Wiltshire used the Giant Walking Bus as a focal point for their campaign to introduce 20mph limits throughout the village, to make it safer for children to walk and cycle to and from school. The school council planned activities for the day and before the march each class had lessons themed on road safety to explain the significance of cars slowing down near schools and how to keep safe when walking and cycling. Pupils also designed posters highlighting why 20mph limits are important and these were affixed to the perimeter fencing around the school to spread the message to the local community. Earlier in the year, the school ran a Bright Day for Brake to emphasise the need for drivers to slow down around schools and look out for cyclists and pedestrians, and children fundraised for Brake during both events.

All pupils from Bedford Drive Primary School in Birkenhead took part in this year's Giant Walking Bus event. Children from every class made banners and placards in advance of the big day to take with them on their march. Children from each year group marched together and came up with their own road safety-themed chants, including 'Twenty's plenty, forty's naughty' and 'Slow down, keep us safe'. The school also held a celebration assembly to share photos and videos from the day, congratulate the children on taking part and reinforce important road safety messages.

Teacher Mrs Elizabeth Finnigan said, 'All staff and children really enjoyed it. Local police officers commented on the great work of the children as they walked past, and cars beeped in support. A wonderful day!'

Market Drayton Primary School in Shropshire once again took part in the Giant Walking Bus and organised another very successful event. Their march took them through the centre of Market Drayton and helped them to spread the important 'slow down' message to local residents. The children, dressed in hi-viz vests, designed 20mph banners and posters to take with them and were joined on the day by the deputy mayor and the local PCSO. Ahead of the march they were also visited by their local road safety officer who helped to run road safety lessons for the 180 children taking part in the march. Pupils also raised an amazing sum of £1,131 for Brake.

Rushy Meadow Primary School in Carshalton, Surrey, take part in the Giant Walking Bus each year. This year, the children made posters and banners to take with them on their march and children and teachers were interviewed by a local radio station about why it is important to get the message out to drivers to slow down around schools. Once again, children were sponsored to take part in the march and managed to raise nearly £1,500 to support Brake's work.

St Mark's Primary School in Barrhead, Glasgow, combined their Giant Walking Bus event with their annual health week and sports day. Junior Road Safety Officers planned and led a road safety assembly, parents came along to support and supervise the march and brought younger children along to join in. The head teacher also donned his hi-viz jacket to lead the march, using a megaphone to encourage children to chant 'slow down!' as they marched and also took a collection bucket with him to encourage donations from local residents and raised £236 for Brake. The school plans to make the Giant Walking Bus a fixture in their school calendar.

Mill O'Forest Primary School in Aberdeentakes part in the Giant Walking Bus each year, and their event was covered by the local radio station for the first time. They went to great lengths to make it a big community event, by marching through the city and meeting up with pupils from two other schools to run a road safety quiz hosted by the local radio station. They made posters, banners and road signs to carry with them and were joined on the day by teachers, parents, local councillors, police officers and traffic wardens.

YESsmethwick - a partnership between Shireland Collegiate Academy and a group of primary schools in Smethwick in the West Midlands - co-ordinated a Giant Walking Bus event involving seven local schools. The student council, made up of two students from each school, organised the march and associated activities themselves. Children designed banners and placards to take with them on their march, focusing on a range of key road safety themes including 'GO 20'. They were joined by local police, road safety officers from Sandwell Council, representatives from ASDA supermarket, while parents and teachers helped to supervise the children. The giant march took the children on an extended 4-mile route through Smethwick town centre to ensure that the 'GO 20' message was spread to drivers right across the town.

Nearly 450 children from Long Meadow Primary School in Milton Keynes marched for safer roads in their community. They all took part in road safety lessons and assemblies ahead of the march, including having discussions about why it was so important and watching a road safety dvd and adverts. The school also received support from local PCSOs, who attended and helped supervise on the day. The children also managed to raise more than £500 for Brake as part of their event.

170 children from Marshside Primary School in Southport made banners to carry with them on their march for safer roads, and received a visit from the local road safety team to help teach them road safety lessons and explain the importance of drivers slowing down around the school. The school has taken part for three years and the Giant Walking Bus has become an annual event and has provided a focus for a local campaign to introduce 20mph limits. The School Travel Action Group has been actively involved in campaigning for lower limits alongside local councillors and were pleased to see 20mph zones extended in Southport with help from their efforts.

180 children from St Mary's Primary School in Largs, North Ayrshiredressed in hi-viz vests and designed banners and posters for their march in support of safer roads as part of their Giant Walking Bus event. They were joined by parents and teachers on their march around the town and local police were also on hand to provide support and supervision on the day. The children also managed to raise over £600 to support Brake's work.

Carr Green School Council in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, used the Giant Walking Bus as a focal point for spreading road safety messages to parents and local residents. Parking or driving on the pavements outside the school has been a serious issue, so the school council issued their own tickets on badly parked cars to remind local drivers to take care around the school. Alongside their march and road safety lessons for the children, the school also launched a new 'Walk on Wednesday' campaign to encourage parents to leave their cars at home and walk with children to school or park away from the school gates to help alleviate the parking and safety issues.

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Wandsworth, London, involved everyone, including nursery and reception children, in road safety activities as part of their Giant Walking Bus event. The school council took charge of planning activities in the lead-up to the event and on the day itself, including how to promote safety messages throughout the school and across the local community. The children designed 'slow down' banners for their march, while younger children took part in road safety lessons using ride-on toys, play roads and road signs, emphasising the importance of holding hands with an adult when near roads. Parents and other volunteers also joined in activities on the day.

Little Plumstead Primary School in Norwich were one of last year's standout schools. In 2013 the school held an informative road safety assembly, teaching children how to stay safe when out and about and highlighting why it is important for drivers to slow down around the school. All pupilsthen marched in a crocodile formation, with children holding hands and chanting.The children made posters to wave during the march and local police officers came along to show their support. Each child was sponsored to take part and raised a fantastic sum of£1,391 for Brake.

Nicky Lingley, teaching assistant, said “We thoroughly enjoyed taking part in Brake's Giant Walking Bus again. The march gave our children a voice, helping them tell drivers to slow down and look out for people on foot. We were very pleased with how the event went and have been overwhelmed by the amount of money that the children have raised given the size of our school.”

Braywood CE Primary School in Windsor took vuvuzelas and whistles with them on their march to help them get their road safety message across to local drivers, and the children also designed their own posters and wore high-viz vests as they marched. The school encouraged parents to get involved, with many of them coming along to help support and supervise activities on the day, and helped to create a community charter around staying safe near roads. The children also raised £148 for Brake.

West Ham Church School in London organised a range of road safety activities alongside their walking bus, to help teach the children important road safety lessons and also to encourage parents to take on board the key messages from the march. Junior Road Safety Officers organised a Green Cross Code quiz for pupils, and the local lollipop lady and police force supported the event by coming to the school to help teach lessons. The school also held a special road safety-themed coffee morning for parents to explain the reasons behind the march and to raise awareness about both road safety and Brake's important work supporting bereaved families and campaigning for safer roads. Early Years Foundation Stage children also took part in their own 'big toddle' for road safety the following week, and pupils across all years contributed to raising a total of nearly £300 for Brake.

Central Park Primary School in East London ran a host of road safety activities for their Giant Walking Bus. Class assemblies and PHSCE lessons were road-safety themed, with the children watching videos and being encouraged to think about the roads close to the school and what can be done to make it safer for everyone. Throughout the year the school council and teachers have been monitoring parking outside the school each day and are working with the council to try and address parking problems. The children also managed to raise more than £500 to support Brake's work.

Claire Rozzier, teacher and sustainability lead, said: The day went really well. We have taken part for quite a number of years now and the children are able to understand and talk about why we are doing it and the importance of road safety and relate it to everyday life. The children especially enjoyed wearing the stickers and holding banners, which was something we have not done before.'

Alveston C of E Primary School in Stratford upon Avon ran a range of activities in the build-up to their march for safer roads, aimed at teaching the children road safety lessons and getting the message out to parents and other local drivers to take care and reduce their speed around the community. Teachers and pupils came up with plenty of ways to help raise awareness, including designing banners and posters, coming up with road safety songs and even raps, having discussions about the importance of safety during lessons and assembliesand issued letters about the event to parents to explain the importance of the march. The children also raised nearly £120 for Brake.

Manor Beach Primary School in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire, took part in the Giant Walking Bus for the first time in 2013. Nearly 300 children, plus teachers and other volunteers, donned their hi-viz vests and joined the march for safer roads. Local PCSOs also came along to deliver a road safety assembly and accompany the children on their march, and each class had additional road safety lessons and made banners to take along with them. The school also used the event to teach the children about healthy lifestyles and eco-friendly transport and to launch their own walking bus scheme to be introduced in September. The children also managed to raise £332 for Brake.

Rokesly Infant School in Hornsey, London, were joined for their march by Mr Crocodile, the local council's Walking Mascot. The local Safer Neighbourhood team also joined the walk, as did many parents. Before the big day, the students worked with a local professional musician to compose a song about road safety and sustainable travel, to be used as part of their road safety lessons and activities on the day. The children also raised more than £800 for Brake.

Acting headteacher Karren Hughes said, 'The walk was very successful with a good turnout of parents to support and supervise the children. Mr Crocodile really added an extra element of fun to the day. The Giant Walking Bus is a good way for us to raise awareness of road safety and remind drivers in the area about safety issues around our school.'

A special thank you too, to the following schools that managed to raise more than £500 for Brake as part of their Giant Walking Bus event:

On 11 June 2014 tens of thousands of children from hundreds of primary schools across the UK walked for safer roads, to encourage drivers to GO 20 around schools, homes and shops to protect children and other cyclists and pedestrians. The event also promoted the benefits of walking and cycling, and raised awareness of the fact that in the UK every day four children are seriously hurt or killed while walking.

A big thank you to all the schools that took part, helping to teach pupils about road danger and the benefits of sustainable, active travel, promoting road safety to parents and drivers in the wider community, and raising valuable funds for Brake.

St Peter’s Primary School in County Armagh used their Giant Walking Bus to raise awareness of road safety issues in their rural community. The school is situated on a road with a 60mph speed limit and no footpaths, and the school wanted to call on the Department of Rural Development to make roads safer for communities facing similar issues. The school involved the local community with the school and playgroup taking part in the walk which congregated at the local football club. As well as raising awareness for the issues they face with road safety around the school they raised £300 for the charity.

John McAlinden said: The walk helped us unite community groups in highlighting our plight for safer roads and we hope that this marks another step forward for our school and community towards a safer road in Collegeland.

Alveston Primary Schoolwas accompanied on their Giant Walking Bus by their local community police officer and localcouncillor, Kate Rolfe. They made some great banners and flags and had discussions about road safety leading up to their walk to raise awareness of the dangers on the road.

Nearly 400 children from Ricelane Infant and Nursery School took part in the school’sGiant Walking Bus which raised £338.50 for Brake’s work supporting bereaved and injured families and campaigning for safer streets. As well as the walk the school ran road safety talks based on the green cross code in class to put road safety on the curriculum around their walk.

Aboyne Primary School,Aberdeenshire had over 300 children taking part in their walk around the local area. The pupils made their own banners and posters to carry with them on their walk. The school was Brake’s top fundraiser from the 2014 event, raising an amazing £1274.45 to support Brake’s work. Mrs McKinley said: ‘The Giant Walking Bus is a lovely day, and is a really worthwhile event to take part in’.

Wollacombe Primary School in Devon took to streets with 200 children parading around the village with home-made placards, drums and whistles to call for safer roads in their community. All of the children wore brightly coloured clothes to remind drivers of the need to slow down to look out for children around schools, homes and shops. The children all made a donation to Brake to take part in this non-uniform day, which raised £117.60 to support Brake’s work.

Barmston Village PrimarySchool in County Durham got the local community involved intheir event. Alongside the 70 children taking part in the march, local police officers and the local councillor came to join in with the walk, along with representatives from local housing office Gentoo joining to support Brake’s campaign for slower speeds and safer communities.

110 children from Huddersfield Grammar walked from the gates of their school to call for safer roads. They used their craft lessons to make banners and posters to carry on their march to call for slower speeds around their school. They also managed to raise over £200 for Brake.

Castle Lower School in Bedfordshire ran lots of road safety activities alongside their Giant Walking Bus. They held road safety talks in class, ran roleplaying activities with road crossings in their playground, and baked traffic light biscuits. The school also raised a fantastic £547.55 to support Brake’s campaigns for safer roads and to support those bereaved and injured by road crashes.

Falconer's Hill Infant School in Daventry invited their local Police Community Support Officer to the school to teach the children about road safety. The police brought along a speed camera van to demonstrate how this worked, and the children then used it to work out how fast they could run and then let them see the speeds of the cars on the road. The police then walked with the 180 children that took part in the Giant Walking Bus and taught them the safe way to cross zebra crossings. The children also took part in role play in the playground, with children taking the roles of drivers and pedestrians to learn about how all road users should use the roads safely. The event was covered by ITV Anglia.

360 children from Smallwood Primary School and Language Unitin London made posters and banners to take with them on their walk to highlight the need for safer streets around their local community. They raised a brilliant £666.70 for Brake as part of their walk.

Christ the King Primary Schoolwas one of the top fundraisers for Brake this year raising over £800 for the charity. The children made road safety posters and banners in class to carry on their walk for safer roads in their local community.

Sutton-at-Hone C of E Primary School in Dartford held a school assembly to talk to the children about road safety, used Brake’s ‘hands up’ surveys to ask the children how they felt about their safety on foot and bike, and made their own posters and banners to carry on their walk. Radio Kent covered the walk, in which the school raised a brilliant £439.08 for Brake.

A campaign launched today (19 Nov) at the start of Road Safety Week is appealing to drivers and authorities everywhere toGO 20, to bring about a 2012 legacy of safe walking, cycling and running for everyone. Brake, the road safety charity, is appealing to drivers to slow down to 20mph or below in communities, and calling for widespread 20mph limits in built up areas, so children and adults can run, walk and cycle for their health and enjoyment, without their lives being endangered.

The campaign is being backed by Paralympic gold-medal winning runner and TV presenter Danny Crates and a young woman who suffered horrendous injuries when she was knocked down while running (see below for quotes).

As theGO 20 campaign is launched through street parties and demonstrations across the UK, a survey of runners [1] by Brake reveals how they are being put at risk by fast traffic:

More than nine in 10 (94%) say they worry for their safety when out running because of fast traffic

Half (50%) say they have been hit or nearly hit by a vehicle when running

More than nine in 10 (92%) say improvements are needed in their area to make roads safer for people on foot and bicycle;

More than eight in 10 (85%) say traffic is too fast on at least some roads in their area. One in four (25%) say it's too fast on all their local roads.

A survey of 8,000 children by Brake and partners Brain Injury Group and Specsavers also reveals that seven in 10 children (70%) are being prevented from getting out and about on foot and bike because of traffic danger (more results below).

Brake is highlighting that slower traffic speeds can help deliver a post-2012 legacy of active communities, and prevent devastating casualties among people on foot and bicycle, which increased in 2011 (see below). Many local authorities are recognising the benefits by implementing town and city-wide 20mph limits. Brake is calling for: more authorities to follow suit; the government to work towards 20mph being the norm in communities; and drivers to pledge to GO 20 in built up areas, even where 30 limits remain.

More than 6,000 organisations, schools and community groups around the UK are taking part in Road Safety Week to raise awareness so children, families and adults can walk and cycle for their health and enjoyment, and as a cheap and sustainable travel choice, without their lives being endangered.

Why GO 20:

Fewer casualties: at 20, drivers have much more time to react, to help them stop in time if they need to, like if a child runs out. Studies show that when 20 limits replace 30, it means fewer casualties among pedestrians and cyclists[2].

More walking and cycling: danger from traffic is a major barrier in enabling more people to walk and cycle. Town and city-wide 20 limits have resulted in more people walking and cycling[3].

Healthier, happier people: More walking and cycling means healthier people, and more enjoyable outdoors activity for kids and adults. It helps communities interact and be communities.

Less pollution:GOing 20 means lower emissions from vehicle journeys [4]. Plus if more people can switch their commute or school run to foot or bike, it means less polluting traffic.

Lower costs: Poor health from inactivity costs society dearly [5]. Road casualties cost even more, due to the suffering and burden on health and emergency services[6]. Preventing casualties and improving health means GOing 20 pays for itself many times over [7]. It also helps people save money by choosing the cheapest ways to get about: foot and bike.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive at Brake, says: “Everyone should be able to run, walk and cycle in their community without fear or threat: it’s a basic right, and GO 20 is about defending that. The 2012 Games helped us all realise the importance of being able to live active lifestyles. Critical to this is making our streets and communities safe places we can use and enjoy. Anyone who drives can help bring this about: pledge to GO 20 in communities, even where the limit’s still 30: you’ll be helping to protect others on foot and bike, and you’ll hardly notice the difference to your journey. We’re also calling on government and more local authorities to recognise the need for 20mph, and the huge demand for safe walking and cycling, and GO 20. Runners who care about their own and others’ safety on roads can back the campaign at go20.org.”

Danny Crates, Paralympics presenter, gold medal winner and GO 20 ambassador, says: “I am passionate about children being able to live healthy, happy, active lives: it’s something all kids should be able to do, not just the privileged few. Bringing about the 2012 legacy we all want to see isn’t only about providing sports facilities. It’s also about making our towns, cities and villages places where kids and adults can get out and about – running, walking, cycling, visiting friends, going to the park – without being put in danger, or even being hurt or killed. That’s why I’m behind GO 20, and appealing to everyone who’s been inspired by the Games to get behind this important campaign.”

Drivers and non-drivers can pledge their support for safer walking and cycling at go20.org.

Pedestrian and cyclist casualties

Every day in the UK, 19 adults and seven children are mowed down and killed or seriously hurt when on foot or bike. In 2011 across the UK pedestrian and cyclist deaths and serious injuries went up significantly, and for the first time in 17 years:

466 people were killed on foot in 2011, up 12% from the previous year, and 5,654 were seriously injured, up 5%. Of these victims, 31% (1,901) were children: 50 child pedestrians were killed in 2011 and 1,851 suffered serious injuries.

109 cyclists were killed, down 2% from the previous year, and 3,132 suffered serious injuries, up 16%. Of these victims, 16% (511) were children: 10 child cyclists were killed and 501 suffered serious injuries.[8]

Case study

Fenella Shelton from Southampton was knocked down and seriously injured in 2007, age 21 at the time. She was going for a run, crossing at a pelican crossing on the Avenue in Southampton, a 30mph road, when a car crashed into her, leaving her with serious long term injuries, requiring years of rehabilitation and nine operations.

Fenella is supporting the GO 20 campaign to encourage drivers to think about the awful consequences of driving too fast in communities. Read more.

Fenella says: “I’m so angry I lost three years of my life to recovering from a crash because a driver just didn’t think about his speed. People need to be more aware when they’re driving, but too many don’t think about the consequences. I’m lucky to be alive and I’m lucky I still have my leg, but others aren’t so lucky, and I wouldn’t wish my injuries on anyone. I’m supporting Road Safety Week and the GO 20 campaign to encourage drivers to think about the consequences of speeding, and commit to slowing down to 20 in towns to keep everyone safe. I think we all should be able to walk, cycle and run in our neighbourhoods without having to risk terrible injuries.”

Results from Brake’s survey of children

A survey of more than 8,000 children [9] age 7-11 by Brake and partners Brain Injury Group and Specsavers reveals how the majority of children are being prevented from leading active, healthy lifestyles by traffic danger:

Seven in 10 (70%) say they would be able to walk and cycle more if roads in their neighbourhood were less dangerous

More than three-quarters (77%) say drivers need to slow down around their home and school

Four in 10 (43%) say they have been hit or nearly hit while walking or cycling, and more than half (54%) worry about being hurt by traffic when out and about

Notes for editors

GO 20 is a partnership campaign being launched by Brake at the start of Road Safety Week 2012 (19-25 November). Find out more at www.go20.org.

Brakeis an independent road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the five deaths and 66 serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day and to care for families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. Brake runs awareness-raising campaigns, community education programmes, events such asRoad Safety Week (19-25 November 2012), and a Fleet Safety Forum, providing advice to companies. Brake’s support division cares for road crash victims through a helpline and other services.

Road Safety Week is the UK’s flagship event to promote safer road use, coordinated annually by the charity Brake and involving thousands of schools, communities and organisations across the country. Road Safety Week 2012 takes place 19-25 November, with support from headline sponsors Brain Injury Group and Specsavers, plus regional sponsors Woop young driver insurance, Bubblebum UK Ltd, Fleet Support Group and Leigh Day & Co Solicitors.

The Brain Injury Group is the UK’s first national network of dedicated brain and head injury lawyers and expert specialists that provides a complete package of support for brain injured people and their families. If you have been affected by brain injury, you can find a local, specialist, skilled brain injury lawyer and other associated support services to help you at www.braininjurygroup.co.uk

Good eyesight is imperative to road safety, which is why Specsavers has made a longstanding commitment to promoting the importance of clear vision behind the wheel, working alongside the national road safety charity Brake. The Specsavers Drive Safe road show tours events and town centres across the country with its specially designed trailer. Visitors to the trailer are invited to receive free vision and hearing screening, with experts on hand to answer any questions.

Road crashes are not accidents; the use of the term ‘accident’ undermines work to reduce road risk and causes insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by drivers taking risks on roads.

End notes

[1] 213 runners gave their views through an anonymous online survey, promoted by Brake and Runner’s World, Brake, 2012

[3] Where widespread 20 limits have been introduced levels of walking and cycling increased by 20% Citywide Rollout of 20mph speed limits, Bristol City Council Cabinet, 2012

[4] Environmental effects of 30 km/h in urban areas – with regard to exhaust emissions and noise, The Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, 1999

[5] The annual costs of physical inactivity in England are estimated at £8.2 billion. At least five a week - evidence on the impact of physical activity and its relationship to health - a report from the Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, 2004

[7] In Bristol, 20mph resulted in a massive return on investment because of cost savings to the health service through increased physical activity. They used the World Health Organisation’s Health Economic Assessment Tool to estimate the changes in costs. They found for every £1 spent they saw a return of £24.72 through increased walking and £7.47 through increased in cycling. Citywide Rollout of 20mph speed limits, Bristol City Council Cabinet, 2012. Reducing speeds in urban environments reduces casualties. For each 1mph speed reduction, casualties decrease by 5%, The effects of drivers’ speed on the frequency of road accidents, Transport Research Laboratory, 2000, fewer crashes reduces the burden on the NHS, emergency services and local economy. Each death on roads costs £1.7 million and each serious injury costs £190,000, Reported road casualties Great Britain 2011, Department for Transport, 2012

[8] These figures are from Reported road casualties Great Britain 2011, Department for Transport, 2011, and Police recorded injury road traffic collisions and casualties Northern Ireland annual report 2011, Police Service of Northern Ireland, 2012. Figures for children were requested from the Department for Transport and Police Service for Northern Ireland and are for children aged 0 – 17.

[9] 8,061 children gave their views through ‘hands-up’ surveys in schools across the UK, Brake, 2012

A national campaign launched today (19 November) is appealing to drivers to GO 20, to bring about a 2012 legacy of safe walking and cycling for everyone. Brake, the road safety charity is appealing to drivers to slow down to 20mph around homes, schools and shops, and calling for 20mph limits in built-up areas, so children and adults can walk and cycle for their health and enjoyment, and for cheap and sustainable travel, without being endangered.

Fleet operators and suppliers nationwide are helping to promote the life saving slow down message by getting involved in Road Safety Week (19-25 November 2012), coordinated by Brake, and mobilising staff and communities in awareness-raising activities.

Thousands of organisations, schools and community groups around the UK are taking part in the Week to get the message across about how we can make roads safer and prevent needless tragedies.

Brake is encouraging companies, particularly fleet operators, to take advantage of the event to promote safe driving to staff and show their commitment to road safety in the wider community. Companies can still register on the Road Safety Week website to receive a pack of free electronic resources, including a guidance sheet by Brake's Fleet Safety Forum on managing driver speed.

As the GO 20 campaign is launched in Road Safety Week through street parties and events across the UK (see below), a survey of more than 8,000 children [1] age 7-11 by Brake, Brain Injury Group and Specsavers reveals how children are affected by danger from fast traffic:

Seven in 10 (70%) say they would be able to walk and cycle more if roads in their neighbourhood were less dangerous

More than three-quarters (77%) say drivers need to slow down around their home and school

Four in 10 (43%) say they have been hit or nearly hit while walking or cycling, and more than half (54%) worry about being hurt by traffic when out and about.

The GO 20 campaign is highlighting that slower speeds in towns, cities and villages can help deliver a post-2012 legacy of active communities, and prevent devastating pedestrian and cyclist casualties, which increased in 2011 (see below). Many authorities are already recognising the benefits of 20mph by implementing town and city-wide 20 limits. GO 20 calls for: more authorities to do this; the government to work towards 20mph being the norm in communities; and drivers to pledge to GO 20 around homes, schools and shops, even where 30 limits remain.

Why GO 20:

Fewer casualties: at 20, drivers have much more time to react, to help them stop in time if they need to, like if a child runs out. Studies show that when 20 limits replace 30, it means fewer casualties among pedestrians and cyclists [2].

More walking and cycling: danger from traffic is a major barrier in enabling more people to walk and cycle. Town and city-wide 20 limits have resulted in more people walking and cycling [3].

Healthier, happier people: More walking and cycling means healthier people, and more enjoyable outdoors activity for kids and adults. It helps communities interact and be communities.

Less pollution: GOing 20 means lower emissions from vehicle journeys [4]. Plus if more people can switch their commute or school run to foot or bike, it means less polluting traffic.

Lower costs: Poor health from inactivity costs society dearly [5]. Road casualties cost even more, due to the suffering and burden on health and emergency services [6]. Preventing casualties and improving health means GOing 20 pays for itself many times over [7]. It also helps people save money by choosing the cheapest ways to get about: foot and bike.

Below are some examples of how fleets and fleet suppliers are getting involved in Road Safety Week.

Balfour Beatty Fleet Services are visiting three high schools in the Derby area, West Park School, Derby College and Friesland School to deliver interactive presentations which will encourage Year 11 and 12 students to drive safely.

Cardinus Risk Management are holding a cine racing event with a buffet, disco, charity auction and raffle, with all proceeds being donated to Brake to support their work preventing road crashes and supporting the victims.

Colas Limited are engaging their staff on the importance of slowing down to 20mph around homes, schools and shops by running a Bright Day on 23rd November 2012 at their head office in Crawley and across the UK, where everyone will wear fluorescent clothing to work. This is particularly important message during the winter months as darker nights and worsening weather conditions reduce visibility and make it harder to see children and pedestrians.

Eddie Stobart employees will be working with pupils at West Haddon Primary School in Northamptonshire to deliver road safety messages to children around the importance of Be Bright Be Seen and the Green Cross Code.

Many of the organisations taking part are Brake partners and subscribers to Brake's Fleet Safety Forum, which provides advice, information and resources based around a programme of events for fleet professionals, sharing and promoting best practice and latest research. 2013 topics include Using in-vehicle technology to improve safety, Creating sustainable travel plans, and Blind spots & manoeuvring: preventing crashes with pedestrians and cyclists. Fleet operators can find out how they can benefit from this essential service at www.fleetsafetyforum.org.

A free copy of the Forum's guidance report for fleet managers on Managing driver speed is included in the e-action pack available by registering at www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive of Brake, says: "GO 20 is all about enabling people to walk and cycle without fear or threat. If we are to bring about a 2012 legacy of more active communities, we need to make our streets and communities safer places. Fleet operators can play an essential role in bringing this about, by ensuring their drivers always put protecting people first, and understand the vital importance of slowing down. Our main message in Road Safety Week is appealing to drivers to stay well within limits, and slow down to 20 around homes, schools and shops. It makes roads safer for walking and cycling, and makes little difference to journey times. It's great so many fleet operators are getting involved and helping to communicate this and other life-saving messages this year. We urge other employers to register on the Road Safety Week website to get our free guidance on managing driver speed."

GO 20 is being launched at a walking and cycling street party in Islington, London's first 20mph borough:AT: 10.30am, Monday 19 November 2012WHERE: Sable Street, Islington N1 2AF (at the back of William Tyndale Primary School)FILMING/PHOTOS: children from William Tyndale Primary School will be hearing from Paralympian Danny Crates how great it is to be healthy and active, taking part in a safe cycling demo with Islington Council, carrying out speed checks with Met Police, and celebrating 20mph with their own banners and placardsINTERVIEWS: Brake deputy CEO Julie Townsend; Paralympian Danny Crates; bereaved parents Sue and Dave Britt; injured campaigner Tom Kearney; Chief Inspector Ian Vincent, Metropolitan Police; Cllr James Murray, Islington Council's executive member for housing and development; vox pops with kids

Other events are happening across the UK, in partnership with local authorities, emergency services and schools. Find out more from news@brake.org.uk / 01484 559909.

Pedestrian and cyclist casualties

Every day in the UK, 19 adults and seven children are mowed down and killed or seriously hurt when on foot or bike.

In 2011 pedestrian deaths and serious injuries went up significantly, and for the first time in 17 years. Pedestrian deaths increased by 12%, while serious injuries increased by 5%. 466 people were killed on foot in 2011 and 5,654 were seriously injured. Of these victims, 31% (1,901) were children: 50 child pedestrians were killed in 2011 and 1,851 suffered serious injuries.

Aaron Britt, 16, from Mansfield, was knocked down and killed by a speeding driver outside his college on 3 October 2011. Aaron suffered severe head injuries and died the following day. His mum Sue Britt is supporting Road Safety Week and the GO 20 campaign. Read more.

Sue Britt says: "Aaron was our only son and we feel empty without him. He was an exceptional young lad; he knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life and had set about making it happen. I urge drivers to slow down to 20mph or less where people are so you have time to stop if someone steps out. Simply making a commitment to slow down will mean you're helping to make roads safer, and it could prevent more people losing their lives needlessly, and other families going through the pain and heartache we have. Aaron was kind and thoughtful and did not deserve to die for making a mistake."

Tom Kearney, 47, of Hampstead, was struck by a bus as he was about to cross Oxford Street at a pedestrian crossing on the busiest shopping day of the year. He suffered severe injuries to his brain and lungs, and was in a deep near-death coma for two weeks. It took Tom two years to recover. Read more.

Tom said: "It took me about two years to rebuild my life because of being hit by a bus. I'm lucky to still be here at all; other people are not so lucky. Drivers can make a big difference in helping to prevent injuries, deaths and suffering by being more aware about the harm they can cause, and taking responsibility for the speed of their vehicles. Drivers should slow right down on shopping streets, in residential neighbourhoods and around schools. Vehicles have the right to be on roads, but so do pedestrians and other non-vehicle road users. If you are behind the wheel of a vehicle, you also have the responsibility to drive with lives outside your vehicle in mind."

Sponsor quotes

Dame Mary Perkins, founder of Specsavers, says: "We are proud to be backing Road Safety Week and joining Brake in calling for action to protect people on foot and bicycle and make our roads safer for everyone. At Specsavers we think protecting children, families and people of all ages when they walk and cycle is absolutely vital. Allowing more people to walk or cycle safely is good for health, the economy and the environment. Everyone can play a part in making this happen, but drivers in particular can take some simple steps, like committing to slowing down to 20mph where people live, and making sure they have crystal clear 20-20 vision too. If we all get behind this campaign, we can make a huge difference in preventing casualties and making our communities safer places."

Sally Dunscombe, operations director at Brain Injury Group says: "We are delighted to support Road Safety Week and to play our part in making roads safer for people to walk and cycle. We know from our work that motor vehicle crashes account for half of all traumatic brain injuries, causing terrible suffering and turns people's lives upside down. Slowing down to 20mph makes an enormous difference in preventing road casualties as it gives you a better chance of stopping in time in an emergency, such as if a child runs out. As well as preventing devastating casualties, if drivers slow down to 20mph it makes our communities more enjoyable places, where people – particularly children – can get out and about without being endangered. We all have a role to play in making this happen, and Brain Injury Group is committed to playing its part by getting behind this important campaign."

Notes for editors

GO 20 is a partnership campaign being launched by Brake at the start of Road Safety Week 2012 (19-25 November). Find out more at www.go20.org.

Brakeis an independent road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the five deaths and 66 serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day and to care for families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. Brake runs awareness-raising campaigns, community education programmes, events such as Road Safety Week (19-25 November 2012), and a Fleet Safety Forum, providing advice to companies. Brake's support divisioncares for road crash victims through a helpline and other services.

Road Safety Week is the UK's flagship event to promote safer road use, coordinated annually by the charity Brake and involving thousands of schools, communities and organisations across the country. Road Safety Week 2012 takes place 19-25 November, with support from headline sponsors Brain Injury Group and Specsavers, plus regional sponsors Woop young driver insurance, Bubblebum UK Ltd, Fleet Support Group and Leigh Day & Co Solicitors.

The Brain Injury Group is the UK's first national network of dedicated brain and head injury lawyers and expert specialists that provides a complete package of support for brain injured people and their families. If you have been affected by brain injury, you can find a local, specialist, skilled brain injury lawyer and other associated support services to help you at www.braininjurygroup.co.uk

Good eyesight is imperative to road safety, which is why Specsavers has made a longstanding commitment to promoting the importance of clear vision behind the wheel, working alongside the national road safety charity Brake. The Specsavers Drive Safe road show tours events and town centres across the country with its specially designed trailer. Visitors to the trailer are invited to receive free vision and hearing screening, with experts on hand to answer any questions.

Islington Councilis the first local authority in the country to introduce 20mph limits across its roads: main roads as well as side roads. All Islington's side streets became 20mph in 2010, and a year later the council agreed to introduce the same limit on main roads, to improve safety in the inner London borough. Work to install new signs and road markings is due to start later this year, to be completed by spring 2013. A small number of major roads in Islington, managed by Transport for London, will remain at 30mph.

Road crashes are not accidents; the use of the term 'accident' undermines work to reduce road risk and causes insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by drivers taking risks on roads.

End notes:

[1] 8,061 children gave their views through 'hands-up' surveys in schools across the UK, Brake, 2012

[3] Where widespread 20 limits have been introduced levels of walking and cycling increased by 20% Citywide Rollout of 20mph speed limits, Bristol City Council Cabinet, 2012

[4] Environmental effects of 30 km/h in urban areas – with regard to exhaust emissions and noise, The Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, 1999

[5] The annual costs of physical inactivity in England are estimated at £8.2 billion. At least five a week - evidence on the impact of physical activity and its relationship to health - a report from the Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, 2004

[7] In Bristol, 20mph resulted in a massive return on investment because of cost savings to the health service through increased physical activity. They used the World Health Organisation's Health Economic Assessment Tool to estimate the changes in costs. They found for every £1 spent they saw a return of £24.72 through increased walking and £7.47 through increased in cycling. Citywide Rollout of 20mph speed limits, Bristol City Council Cabinet, 2012. Reducing speeds in urban environments reduces casualties. For each 1mph speed reduction, casualties decrease by 5%, The effects of drivers' speed on the frequency of road accidents, Transport Research Laboratory, 2000, fewer crashes reduces the burden on the NHS, emergency services and local economy. Each death on roads costs £1.7 million and each serious injury costs £190,000, Reported road casualties Great Britain 2011, Department for Transport, 2012

[8] These figures are from Reported road casualties Great Britain 2011, Department for Transport, 2011, and Police recorded injury road traffic collisions and casualties Northern Ireland annual report 2011, Police Service of Northern Ireland, 2012. Figures for children were requested from the Department for Transport and Police Service for Northern Ireland and are for children aged 0 – 17.

As survey shows most kids are prevented from walking and cycling by traffic danger

A national campaign launched today (19 November) is appealing to drivers and authorities to GO 20, to bring about a 2012 legacy of safe walking and cycling for everyone. Brake, the road safety charity, is appealing to drivers to slow down to 20mph around homes, schools and shops and calling for 20mph limits to become the norm across built-up areas, so children and adults can walk and cycle for their health and enjoyment, and for cheap and sustainable travel, without being or feeling endangered.

The campaign is being backed by Mike Hall, who recently became the fastest person to circumnavigate the globe by bicycle.

As the GO 20 campaign is launched in Road Safety Week through events and demonstrations across the UK, a survey of more than 8,000 children [1] age 7-11 by Brake, Brain Injury Group and Specsavers reveals how children are affected by danger from traffic:

Seven in 10 (70%) say they would be able to walk and cycle more if roads in their neighbourhood were less dangerous

More than three-quarters (77%) say drivers need to slow down around their home and school

Four in 10 (43%) say they have been hit or nearly hit while walking or cycling, and more than half (54%) worry about being hurt by traffic when out and about.

Seven in 10 (72%) said they would like to walk and cycle more than they do at present

75% would like more traffic-free cycle paths in their area, while 61% would like more footpaths, pavements and crossings, which they could use to get to school, the park, shops or to see friends

38% said they are not allowed to walk unaccompanied and 47% said they are not allowed to cycle unaccompanied.

Brake is highlighting that slower traffic speeds can help deliver a 2012 legacy of active communities, and prevent devastating casualties among people on foot and bike, which went up in 2011 (see below). Many authorities are recognising the benefits of slower speeds and introducing town and city-wide 20mph limits. Brake is calling for: more authorities to do this; the government to work towards 20mph limits being the norm in communities; and drivers to pledge to GO 20 around homes, schools and shops, even where 30 limits remain.

Why GO 20:

Fewer casualties: at 20, drivers have much more time to react, to help them stop in time if they need to, like if a child runs out. Studies show that when 20 limits replace 30, it means fewer casualties among pedestrians and cyclists [2].

More walking and cycling: danger from traffic is a major barrier in enabling more people to walk and cycle. Town and city-wide 20 limits have resulted in more people walking and cycling [3].

Healthier, happier people: More walking and cycling means healthier people, and more enjoyable outdoors activity for kids and adults. It helps communities interact and be communities.

Less pollution: GOing 20 means lower emissions from vehicle journeys [4]. Plus if more people can switch their commute or school run to foot or bike, it means less polluting traffic.

Lower costs: Poor health from inactivity costs society dearly [5]. Road casualties cost even more, due to the suffering and burden on health and emergency services [6]. Preventing casualties and improving health means GOing 20 pays for itself many times over [7]. It also helps people save money by choosing the cheapest ways to get about: foot and bike.

Anyone can pledge their support for GO 20 and safer walking and cycling at go20.org.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive of Brake, says: “Everyone should be able to walk and cycle in their community without fear or threat: it’s a basic right, and GO 20 is about defending that. The 2012 Games helped us all realise the importance of being able to live active lifestyles. Critical to this is making our streets and communities safe places we can use and enjoy. Anyone who drives can help bring this about by pledging to GO 20 around homes, schools and shops: you’ll be helping to protect people around you, and you’ll hardly notice the difference to your journey. We’re also calling on the government and more local authorities to recognise the benefits of 20mph, and the huge demand for safe walking and cycling, and GO 20. We would urge anyone who is passionate about cycling, and particularly children’s ability to take up cycling safely, to get behind the campaign at www.go20.org.”

Mike Hall, who recently become the fastest person to circumnavigate the globe by bicycle, and who is backing the GO 20 campaign, says: “The recent summer of sporting success, particularly in cycling, means more and more people are taking to their bikes or thinking about it. That's great for people’s health, and will also play a vital role in helping to reduce congestion and pollution. However, the current road system is designed predominantly around motor vehicles, and unless we do more to protect the safety of cyclists – and people on foot – we run the risk that this progress will be short lived. This is why I am delighted to back Brake’s GO20 campaign, encouraging everyone to play a part in changing the culture on our roads to one of mutual respect, to help protect the safety of cyclists and pedestrians across the UK.”

Case study

Donal McNally, 45, a spinal injuries researcher, was cycling home from Nottingham University when he was knocked off his bike and left for dead. He suffered three neck fractures, lower back fracture and cracked ribs and was told he was lucky to be alive. Read more.

Donal says: “Being knocked off my bike was a horrific experience, which left me with painful injuries and caused me months off work. But I was very lucky: I’ve spent a career researching spinal injuries and I know how easily I could have been killed. I owe my life to my helmet and I’d urge all cyclists to wear a helmet and bright clothing and fit front and back lights to help drivers see you. But the main message I want to promote for Road Safety Week is how important it is for drivers to slow down to below 20mph around homes, schools and shops and be on a constant look out for cyclists and pedestrians. Our roads are shared spaces so it’s important we work together to make them safe.”

Pedestrian and cyclist casualties

Every day in the UK, 19 adults and seven children are mowed down and killed or seriously hurt when on foot or bike.

In 2011 pedestrian deaths and serious injuries went up significantly, and for the first time in 17 years. Pedestrian deaths increased by 12%, while serious injuries increased by 5%. 466 people were killed on foot in 2011 and 5,654 were seriously injured. Of these victims, 31% (1,901) were children: 50 child pedestrians were killed in 2011 and 1,851 suffered serious injuries.

Dame Mary Perkins, founder of Specsavers, says: “We are proud to be backing Road Safety Week and joining Brake in calling for action to protect people on foot and bicycle and make our roads safer for everyone. At Specsavers we think protecting children, families and people of all ages when they walk and cycle is absolutely vital. Allowing more people to walk or cycle safely is good for health, the economy and the environment. Everyone can play a part in making this happen, but drivers in particular can take some simple steps, like committing to slowing down to 20mph where people live, and making sure they have crystal clear 20-20 vision too. If we all get behind this campaign, we can make a huge difference in preventing casualties and making our communities safer places.”

Sally Dunscombe, operations director at Brain Injury Group says: “We are delighted to support Road Safety Week and to play our part in making roads safer for people to walk and cycle. We know from our work that motor vehicle crashes account for half of all traumatic brain injuries, causing terrible suffering and turns people’s lives upside down. Slowing down to 20mph makes an enormous difference in preventing road casualties as it gives you a better chance of stopping in time in an emergency, such as if a child runs out. As well as preventing devastating casualties, if drivers slow down to 20mph it makes our communities more enjoyable places, where people – particularly children – can get out and about without being endangered. We all have a role to play in making this happen, and Brain Injury Group is committed to playing its part by getting behind this important campaign.”

Notes for editors

GO 20 is a partnership campaign being launched by Brake at the start of Road Safety Week 2012 (19-25 November). Find out more at www.go20.org.

Brake is an independent road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the five deaths and 66 serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day and to care for families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. Brake runs awareness-raising campaigns,community education programmes, events such as Road Safety Week (19-25 November 2012), and a Fleet Safety Forum, providing advice to companies. Brake’s support division cares for road crash victims through a helpline and other services.

Road Safety Week is the UK’s flagship event to promote safer road use, coordinated annually by the charity Brake and involving thousands of schools, communities and organisations across the country. Road Safety Week 2012 takes place 19-25 November, with support from headline sponsors Brain Injury Group and Specsavers, plus regional sponsors Woop young driver insurance, Bubblebum UK Ltd, Fleet Support Group and Leigh Day & Co Solicitors.

The Brain Injury Group is the UK’s first national network of dedicated brain and head injury lawyers and expert specialists that provides a complete package of support for brain injured people and their families. If you have been affected by brain injury, you can find a local, specialist, skilled brain injury lawyer and other associated support services to help you at www.braininjurygroup.co.uk

Good eyesight is imperative to road safety, which is whySpecsavershas made a longstanding commitment to promoting the importance of clear vision behind the wheel, working alongside the national road safety charity Brake. The Specsavers Drive Safe road show tours events and town centres across the country with its specially designed trailer. Visitors to the trailer are invited to receive free vision and hearing screening, with experts on hand to answer any questions.

Road crashes are not accidents; the use of the term ‘accident’ undermines work to reduce road risk and causes insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by drivers taking risks on roads.

End notes:

[1] 8,061 children gave their views through ‘hands-up’ surveys in schools across the UK, Brake, 2012

[7] In Bristol, 20mph resulted in a massive return on investment because of cost savings to the health service through increased physical activity. They used the World Health Organisation’s Health Economic Assessment Tool to estimate the changes in costs. They found for every £1 spent they saw a return of £24.72 through increased walking and £7.47 through increased in cycling.Citywide Rollout of 20mph speed limits, Bristol City Council Cabinet, 2012. Reducing speeds in urban environments reduces casualties. For each 1mph speed reduction, casualties decrease by 5%, The effects of drivers’ speed on the frequency of road accidents, Transport Research Laboratory, 2000, fewer crashes reduces the burden on the NHS, emergency services and local economy. Each death on roads costs £1.7 million and each serious injury costs £190,000, Reported road casualties Great Britain 2011, Department for Transport, 2012

[8] Figures for adults are from Reported road casualties Great Britain 2011, Department for Transport, 2011, and Police recorded injury road traffic collisions and casualties Northern Ireland annual report 2011, Police Service of Northern Ireland, 2012. Figures for children were requested from the Department for Transport and Police Service for Northern Ireland and are for children aged 0 – 17.

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Every 30 seconds someone, somewhere in the world is killed in a road crash. Brake works to stop road deaths and injuries by campaigning for safer roads; supports people bereaved or injured in road crashes; and raises public awareness for sustainable transport. Registered charity No. 1093244